Stan Clawson was 20 years old when a rock climbing accident severed his spinal cord and left him paralyzed. Now 49, the Utah native and independent filmmaker relies on the insurance he gets through the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace for his medical needs.

“Unlike a lot of people who are lucky enough to just get health insurance as a ‘just in case,’ I use my health insurance every single day, multiple times a day, every time I go to the bathroom,” Clawson said during a recent interview, referring to his coverage for catheters. “For me, it’s not an option to not have health insurance. I need that just to live.”

Clawson is among the thousands of Utahns who — despite having higher incomes — pay less toward their monthly premiums because the federal government pays a sub

See Full Page