2010 State Legislative Preview: NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW HAMPSHIRE RAISES DEPENDENT AGE ON HC POLICIES
Most noteworthy for Granite State residents, 2009 saw the increase in the dependent age of children covered under a parents private insurance policy to 29 years of age. Also, New Hampshire continues to impose restrictions on the practice of data mining in light of its landmark bill addressing marketing practices and data aggregation. With pitched battles for the top of 2010 ticket, campaign politics figures to be elevated to blood sport. Senator Judd Gregg’s retirement and Congressman Paul Hodes and NH Attorney general Kelly Ayotte’s choices to move on the Senate seat has created open seats in both races plus the AG’s office in Concord, placing the Federal Healthcare debate at the center of political discourse in New Hampshire. This does not mean that the state may not consider ways to address healthcare reform, but NH’s tax structure (no sales or income taxes) means that there is less money in state coffers to experiment with.      
HFA continues to profile each of the individual states and the current legislative environment looking ahead towards the 2010 legislative term. As always, community members are invited to comment, raise questions, address evolving themes. Your imput is always welcome.