WASHINGTON (AP) — Here's a look at the ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act:
THE RULING:
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's health care law, including the most disputed part: the mandate that virtually all Americans have health insurance or pay a fine. The mandate was upheld under the federal government's power to levy taxes.
The ruling put some limits on the law's plan to expand the Medicaid insurance program for the poor, a joint effort of the federal government and states. It says the U.S. government cannot threaten to withhold a state's entire Medicaid allotment if it doesn't participate in the expansion.
Chief Justice John Roberts sided with the court's four liberal justices - Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor - to form the 5-4 majority.
THE CONTEXT
The decision affects nearly every American and marks a major milepost in a century of efforts to make health care available to all. The law is President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement and perhaps the most polarizing issue of his re-election campaign. His Republican rival Mitt Romney and GOP lawmakers have promised to repeal Obamacare.
WHAT NOW?
The 2010 health care law will continue phasing in as planned. It's expected to bring coverage to about 30 million uninsured people, so that more than 9 in 10 eligible Americans will be covered.
Some parts are already in effect: Young adults can stay on their parents' insurance up to age 26. Insurers can't deny coverage to children with health problems. Limits on how much policies will pay out to each person over a lifetime are eliminated. Hundreds of older people already are saving money through improved Medicare prescription benefits. And co-payments for preventive care for all ages have been eliminated.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Starting in 2014, almost everyone will be required to be insured or pay a fine. There are subsidies to help people who can't afford coverage. Most employers will face fines if they don't offer coverage for their workers. Newly created insurance markets will make it easier for individuals and small businesses to buy affordable coverage. And Medicaid will be expanded to cover more low-income people.
Insurers will be prohibited from denying coverage to people with medical problems or charging those people more. They won't be able to charge women more, either. During the transition to 2014, a special program for people with pre-existing health problems helps these people get coverage.
An assortment of tax increases, health industry fees and Medicare cuts will help pay for the changes.
IS THE ISSUE SETTLED NOW?
Not necessarily. Although the court found it constitutional, the health care law still could be changed by Congress. Romney and Republican congressional candidates are campaigning on promises to repeal it if elected in November.
Some parts of the law are popular, but others - especially the mandate that virtually everyone have insurance coverage - are not.
Also, an estimated 26 million people will remain without health coverage once the law is fully implemented, including illegal immigrants, people who don't sign up and elect to face the fine instead, and those who can't afford it even with the subsidies.
Comments
This plan is all about taxation. Taxing the rich? YEP! If you have a tax refund coming you will be considered rich. Since you didn't buy insurance you will be able to anty up $1,500. each year for not having any. Your tax refund will be shorted this amount. After you pay the government has your money and you still have no health insurance.
The Solicitor General had argued that the law was constitutional under the Commerce Clause. The SC rejected that premise but found that it does fall under the Congress' power to tax us. CJ Roberts found that the penalty amounts to a tax. Now, Barack Hussein Obama consistently argued that this plan was not a tax. My question is, in what other circumstance does the federal govt tax us for NOT doing something. We have to pay income tax. We have to pay FICA tax for Social Security but we don't have to accept the benefit. We have to pay Medicare taxes but we don't have to accept Medicare coverage. Under Obamacare, a person can merely pay the penalty and not carry insurance. Then, if they fall ill and need coverage, they can then opt to start paying for coverage as denial of coverage is prohibited and they can't be forced to pay more. Then, when they are finally mended, they can once again opt out.
This is a temporary win for Barry. Since over 60% of Americans wanted the mandate done away with, the only solution is to change those making the laws.
This is good
Bush's judge said it is the law of the land
This is a good law. It's all about personal responsibility. People will have to make arrangements to pay for their care (like grown ups should do). I'm tired of paying for people who go to the emergency room for every little thing and have no way to pay. That goes for the people who call an ambulance unneccessarily also because they need a ride or think that arriving in one gets them into the ER faster.
If you can't afford coverage, the law provides for low cost options.
im so happy i could cry. WTG President Obama!
The only way to stop socialism is to get rid of the socialist. This will cost him a second term.
I'm not sure how anyone could think this is socialism. The law enforces personal responsibility and to be compliant you have to do business with an insurance company or be very wealthy. That's capitalism.
If it was single payer, that would be socialism.
I think a lot of people get their 'isms' mixed up.
SInce the SC has ruled that the penalty clause in Obamacare is actually an imposed tax, this turns the Constitution over. The Framers gave the power to tax to Congress and specifically mandated that all tax bills MUST originate in the House as that body is the most accountable to the People. Since the imposition of taxes has never been popular in the States (remember the Stamp ACt?) these representatives are never more than two years away from their next election and the possible rebuke of the People. Every one of the lower court rulings flatly rejected the consideration of this penalty as a tax but CJ Roberts has now found otherwise. Apparently, if the Executive branch cannot put forth a successful argument in their petition, the Judicial branch can find their own argument. This is akin to making law by judicial fiat by those government representatives that are the farthest removed from their accountability by the people!
A government that tells you it will provide you with everything you will ever need...... will eventually take away everything you will ever have.
This is a complete and total disaster for the American people. For those of you that think this is a fantastic win, you are wrong. What you are about to see is increased lines at the doctor's office, pharmacy and emergency room. What would have been a condition that was considered "treatable" in order for you to live, will now be considered "too expensive" and you will be left to die. All of you who support this bill are looking at it only from the standpoint that everyone will have healthcare...not that everyone's healthcare will be greatly diminished. Sure, it is great to have healthcare, but when your healthcare is more limited by your plan than if you just walked into an ER without it...what is the point? For someone who is uninsured now, you can go to an ER with chest pains and get treated. For someone on the government version, you can go to the hospital, but then a bureaucrat will decide whether your life is important enough to be saved. Wake up liberal-socialists of Mahoning County!!!!! This is a BAD DEAL!!!!!!!!!
Redeye, people on welfare collect Earned Income Tax Credit. If they don't comply they'll pay a penalty that will be deducted from their EITC.
Very good points rightofronnie. And for those of you who just don't understand what's going on in this administration, and some of these posts certainly prove that point, bgreene said it best.
GM is ALIVE
Bin Laden is DEAD
The Iraq War is OVER
ObamaCare is UPHELD.
None of the aforementioned would be true had McCain or Mitt been in office. RomneyCare was the MODEL for ObamaCare and now the FLIP-FLOPPER is spreading FEAR to the masses about it. 17 MILLION people have worse health care than convicted chilld molester Jerry Sandusky. Jerry has a prison hospital and medical professionals at his disposal, while 17 MILLION people are unisured.
This is good news. I have worked contract for a lot of places were the young workers to not take or want to pay $125.000 a month for health care offered by the employers. They need that money for the cell phones, internest, cable tv with all the devo, tvo and yo yo to play their games. These young workers go out and have babies or get in accidents and cost the tax payers billions of dollars a year. Where are these conservatives coming from. Everytime a baby from a single mother is born or a young person gets in an accident on the their own time we, all of we, pay the bills. This will share the health care responsiblity between all. Why do medicare individuals have money taken from their social security checks and we let all the bottom suckers get it for free. Wake up! It is not socialized medicine. It is share the burden health care.
This was the right vote. Anything that has helped the middle class has been done by the Democrats who have a social conscience. I applaud Justice Roberts because he saw that this bill was something that will help others and he voted accordingly even though he is a conservative. Perhaps he recognized that we need to work together in this country for the benefit of all and not just the rich.
DwightK wrote "people on welfare collect Earned Income Tax Credit" Now tell me, what income is that tax credit earned on. Are you telling me that the people on the dole are going to be penalized? You do understand that they vote democrat.
Some of you people are really naive making all these assumptions of what is gonna happen. The working people will be taxed to cover the ones that spend their lives on the dole. The same ones that go to the emergency room for every little sniffle. But a lot of them can afford their beer and cigarettes can't they?
Redvert
Your reasoning is flawed... as usual. People on welfare ALSO get a medical card that handles all of their medical needs WITHOUT a copay at all. Should the Affordable Care Act been stricken down, there would be no accountability for those people, just as it has always been, and there would be no accountability for those who do not want health coverage, but run to the ER for everything and no means of payment.
People the Supreme Court made a decision based on an interpretation of the Constitution, not based on how they felt when they woke up this morning. They are in place to clarify and interpret law. They made a decision based on law and we all need to come together as a country and make it work.
President Obama and the justices do not want to ruin America. Please stop listening to Rush. If anyone wants to ruin America, it's him.
What's next? Jack boots and arm bands? America is truly on the off ramp with the Democratic leadership.
I can't wait to hear what Barrack promised Putin he would be able to do once he was re-elected.
This is a GOP court
John Roberts is a Bush/GOP/TEA guy
WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM
THIS IS Robertscare now
OR maybe TEACARE
Never thought I would say this but THANK YOU TEA
You got it done
When you look at unemployment, the overall economy, the massive debt, and now this. You call this leadership? He will be voted out in November. He'll be gone, like a bad dream. He had his chance. He only made things much worse. This was the nail that cost him a second term. Face it, during his time he only made things worse. No one with any sense can say otherwise. He only made things worse. He spent us over a cliff and made things worse.
I urge al of you to pause with your partisan rhetoric and go to this link to read about the actual ramifications of this bill. This is going to be huge for our country. Women who need basic screenings and healthcare will now have it, children who are sick will no longer be denied coverage, seniors will save on prescriptions, and even more great things. Read up on things before you start spouting your hate and ignorance. Youngstown of all places will benefit greatly from Obamas healthcare plan. Besides, what weve been doing hasnt been working, so its time for a change, im sorry but thats the reality...
http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthrefor...
Let's look at this Toycannon, if we look at unemployment like Romney caused for more than half the businesses he worked on for Bain Capital, and had him 47th of 50 states in job creation while he was a governor of Mass, the economy that was tanked by our previous administration and has admittedly not grown as quick as our President said it would, the massive debt like Romney built up in Massachussets, and now this, the very health care plan that Romney created in Mass and most of his advisors helped to create this national plan.
Hmmmmmm....guess the choice is clear, I am sticking by our President
Like I said,ytown, if you like the direction he has taken this country, then by all means vote for four more years of this. If you like the debt and no jobs you have the right guy in place. If you like the big government then you have the right guy. If you think the country is better now, then vote for more of this. If this is how you want things, you have it.
It's not rocket science. If you can't afford exorbitant fees for health insurance then $1,500. paid to the government for not having coverage will deny you money for doctor visits and medication. The working poor are taking a direct hit from Obama.
The NON PARTISAN Congressional Budget Office crunched the numbers and said that ObamaCare would reduce the Federal Deficit by 930 Billion Dollars in its first ten years. The neo-cons were crying about the deficit and now that RomneyCare, oops, I mean ObamaCare has passed it's going to have a positive effect on the US economy as a whole. Heck, Health Care is the economy.
RomneyCare was a "great piece of legislation" in Massachusetts, but now Mitt-Flopper is saying it's bad for the country. Mitt's a JOKE.
Not sure where 6675409 came up with $1500 but the tax will be $695 or 2-2.5% of your total income. EVERYBODY will have to pay something. No more freeloading for the slackers.
This legislation has the potential to create 4,000,000 jobs, these are decent healthcare related jobs. With all the sick people in Youngstown, everybody will be back to work.
RomneyCare is going to create 4 MILLION jobs!! The more people who are covered by Health Care, the more people the HC field will employ. A healthier work force means a more productive work force. The wealthiest country in the world FINALLY has taken care of their own people. HC should be a RIGHT not a STATUS symbol. This bill will SAVE LIVES!! Thank You Governor Romney!! We couldn't have done it without you.
There are over 30 million people that currently do not have insurance. Once they have insurance they will be more likely to go to the Drs. This will create more demand for care than ever before, you seriously don't understand how this will create jobs? I'm sure the govt will also grow as a result of this, but there will be more private sector healthcare related jobs created.
@youngstowntelegram- I'm sorry but you're wrong on many of your points.
Does this insurance scam allow me to pay my natural-path? What do you mean, if you want to treat sickness find a homeopathic physician. Will it cover nutrition supplements? No insurance that I know of covers natural supplements ( I work in health insurance so I am versed in this). Will it cover preventative car? Part of this legislation mandates preventative screenings and care at NO COINSURANCE/COPAY.
So I have no use for it. Never had. I use hospitals for trauma care only. Massive cuts, badly broken bones. Emergency care is the most expensive care there is, sounds like you need it.
This is about MD care, insurance companies and doctors. It is about these companies diluting risk pools and reporting record income. Your not correct, this is actually about IMPROVING risk pools, by making everybody responsible the cost is not thrown back on responsible people who pay monthly health insurance premiums. Record income is going to become a thing of the past, here's the definition of MLR-A basic financial measurement used in the Affordable Care Act to encourage health plans to provide value to enrollees. If an insurer uses 80 cents out of every premium dollar to pay its customers' medical claims and activities that improve the quality of care, the company has a medical loss ratio of 80%. A medical loss ratio of 80% indicates that the insurer is using the remaining 20 cents of each premium dollar to pay overhead expenses, such as marketing, profits, salaries, administrative costs, and agent commissions. The Affordable Care Act sets minimum medical loss ratios for different markets, as do some state laws. When insurance companies spend less than 80% of premiums on care the law mandates that consumers get rebates or money back.
There are still plenty of non-profit medical groups in this country, you can find them if you look.
ROMNEYCARE made HC more affordable in Massachusetts, lowered the states deficit and created jobs. That's his platform. Now you people are telling me that OBAMACARE, the same exact piece of legislation but with a different name is a job killer that's going to drive up the price of care and add to the deficit? Sounds like The Party of No is trying to spread FEAR to the masses. How many people are employed on those Death Panels in Massachusetts?
Ha ha --- Romney Flopper just lost the White House !!
President Obama is quite simply the best man in the White House since Abe Lincoln.
Add it up any way you want --- he killed Bin Laden, he killed Qaddafi, he took down Mubarak, and he ended 2 unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Now he's providing affordable healthcare coverage to ALL Americans --- not just the millionaires like the Republicans only care about.
I say we repeal the 2-term limit in the Constitution and allow Obama to rule America for life !!!
HURRAY FOR OBAMA !!!!!!
It's obvious islandmike loves Romney because of Romneycare and is voting for Romney beacuse he loves how he managed Mass. That's one thing. Now with all these new people getting insurance what makes you think any, or many, doctors will accept them all for new patients? And if they do, how long in advance do you think you will have to wait to see your doctor now? And once you are there, how long do you think you will have to sit in the waiting room to get in to the little waiting room to see him? Talk about a mess. Have you ever wondered why so many people didn't have insurance to begin with? You never went without insurance, why do you think many of those people went without insurance? And you're so worried about them. Why?
To get to the merits of the case the SC fond the mandate was not a tax. Then to save the mandate the SC found the mandate was a tax. For the first time in our history the federal government can force a person to engage in commerce or pay a tax for not engaging in commerce. If this stands our Republic is lost.
I was forced to pay for the invasion of Iraq which is a trillion and counting.
I'm forced to send federal taxes to DC who the sends it to inbreds in Mississippi, Alabama and the like.
That's how it works. We pay federal taxes that pay for government programs. Everyone will never agree on which programs should be supported. That's how it has always worked.
What I don't like about the bill is that it isn't single payer not for profit. Billions for health insurance companies that do nothing when it comes to anyones health care but get paid anyway.
As far as the mandate, people should pay for their own health insurance. If they don't have coverage the rest of us pay for their treatment. Those that are crying about it are just looking for a free ride.
If the Affordable Care Act were soooo bad for the economic future of the US, then Wall Street not only would have gone down the day after the Supreme Courts ruling, it would have CRASHED. That wasn't the case, the Dow finished up +277 points. Don't give me any EXCUSES about the stabilization of the Euro. The street would have CRASHED had this been as "bad" as FIXED NOISE NETWORK makes it out to be.
Get ready for retna scans, and micro-chips installed on your body for GPS, the nature of the beast, another way to get more Names, Faces, Numbers into the Data Bank.
This sounds as though our country is moving toward a Totalitarian Government
"Also, an estimated 26 million people will remain without health coverage once the law is fully implemented, including illegal immigrants, people who don't sign up and elect to face the fine instead, and those who can't afford it even with the subsidies."
Quote from "what you should know" story
They said Bush lied about weapons of mass destruction and used it as an excuse to kill thousands of our troops.
They're saying that Obama lied about passing ObamaCare (or RomneyCare) as a tax. So he lied to save lives.
Seems funny to me that more people in this country are angry about ObamaCare, but no one complained about the killing of thousands of our troops in Iraq.
I'm not big on the bible, I rarely go to church, but it seems to me that the one commandment that says, "Thou shall not kill," should start to carry a little more weight. We're killing our own troops for no reason and we're killing our own citizens because we're trying to treat health care like a status symbol. PATHETIC!
I worked in the ER and noone was ever turned away due to lack of insurance. I for one DONOT want a panel of "Obamabots" making decisions that should be made by me, my family and my doctor. Obama has to go!!! I hate to see what he will
mandate next! Maybe a TAX on the amount of air we breathe????