Bills would reimburse residents fined for not having health insurance

With a key deadline for the Affordable Care Act approaching, Oklahoma lawmakers are continuing efforts to shield state residents from what they say are the federal law’s harmful effects.

Legislation offering an estimated $24 million in tax credits to those fined under the law and a separate bill to regulate insurance navigators remain alive in the state House.

Open enrollment for insurance plans under the federal health-care law ends March 31. After that date, people without health insurance are subject to a federal tax penalty unless they fall into an excluded category.