What's the future for President Obama's health care reform law?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
"Obamacare" went on trial today with the Supreme Court starting three days of arguments on the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's landmark health care law.
And after today's 90-minute session, it seems like a majority of the justices want to decide the case now instead of waiting another two years until the full law goes into effect.
On Tuesday, the justices will hear arguments on the constitutionality of the individual mandate, which is the key to this whole showdown.
Twenty-six states are suing the government. They claim the health care law is unconstitutional because of the "individual mandate" provision, which requires most Americans to purchase health insurance by 2014 or face a financial penalty.
Republicans have been out in full force slamming the law. All of the GOP presidential candidates say they will try to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act if elected. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says repeal of Obamacare will be the first order of business if Republicans win control of the Senate in November.
Democrats have their work cut out for them defending all this, and they don't seem to be getting much help from Obama. He didn't even bother to publicly mark the bill's two year anniversary last week - something he has been only too eager to do in the past.
This might be the reason: Polls suggest many Americans just don't like the health reform law. A new CNN/ORC Poll shows 50% of those surveyed disapprove of the law. 43% approve.
When asked how the Supreme Court should rule, more than 70% say the high court should overturn all or part of Obamacare.
Here’s my question to you: What's the future for President Obama's health care reform law?
Tune in to the Situation Room at 4pm to see if Jack reads your answer on air.
And, we love to know where you’re writing from, so please include your city and state with your comment.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
If they fix it we wont have to pay the non working shareholders hiding behind doctors,nurses and machines our tax dollars already helped pay for the development of...
I'm not sure why the SCOTUS is going to take any time on the the health care act. Everyone with an IQ of 10 or better knows that the vote will be 5-4 against. After all, why should the conservative Robert's SCOTUS want to help those that need it? I'm fairly sure that once SCOTUS rules against it, the health insurance companies will raise their rates 300% at a minimum and drop anyone who has a cold.
Obamacare needs Republocare.
Hopefully the trash basket, but I fear that the Supreme Court will do what it has often done in the past, and permit more power-grabbing by the Government, which will be a loss for us all. Government intervention succeeds at distorting markets, and costing taxpayers money, This so-called health care reform is no different...
Ron Paul in 2012...
Who cares. Obamacare does not do anything to lower heatlh care costs for the middle class. More low income people will be placed on medicaid, health care companies will get more customers, doctors get a 30% raise, and the middle class get the shaft.
People are sick of having insurance only as long as they are not sick and it being canceled on them when they do get sick. Insurance companies did this to themselves through greed. Fareed Zakaria did an excellent piece for CNN on how we can attain the quality of health care enjoyed by the rest of the industrialized nations.
I hope the right wing of the Supreme Court keep their partisan hands off the Affordable Care Act. If they put health care completely back in the hands of the corrupt insurance industry less people will be covered at a much higher cost. And many people will not get needed health care. Emergency rooms will become the last resort for sick people at a much greater cost to tax payers.
Frances
Escondido
Just like life Jack. The ones who need it the most wont get it and the ones who need it the least will make sure they don't get it!
Trail lawyers, not affected by this law, why not, it affects the rest of us? They are one big reason the costs of health care is so high and so out of control. Yeah, if there is malpractice no one wants that, but millions and billions to greedy blood sucking trial lawyers, there has to be a better way, there just has to.
Lets hope it's around forever, And lets hope that this law puts an end to all those greedy insurance companies, who are ripping us all off with these extreme policy payments. And if the Supreme Court overturns this law as unconstitutional....I sure hope that they overturn all of Congress's and their own socialized medical insurance, their socialized pension plans, their protection details too. After all, I didn't read in the constitution where they get benefits, pay yes, benefits......no! What is really needed is a single insurance company(single payer) that handles all of our health care premiums. No one can afford the premiums or their unjust deductibles....and lets stop this "select society" of the halves against the 99% halve nots.
I don't know Jack. I have always felt comfortable with SCOTUS being the last word for the American people. I
don't feel that way anymore. They will make the final decision, and due to some of their past rulings,
specifically GW Bush and Citizens United, they have proven that politics comes before reason. Whatever they
rule, I will forever question their motives and their ability to be unbiased in their decisions. Thank you.
It all depends on the Bush and son's Supreme Court justices. Ugh!
I would hope that it is improved on where it's weak. Health care can't remain a "Pro-profit" industry or it will also bankrupt America in this greedy enivronment we are in. I've always been for a non-profit; single payer system.
To have a future. All Americans not just working Americans have a right to Health Care! Why is it okay to send money all over the world to help poor people (mostly with health care issues) in countries that hate Americans while a living breathing American is not allowed to walk into a Doctor's office or Hospital to get medical care? This is fundamentally WRONG!
It's hard to say. For the few people that actually wanted it to happen I imagine it will be a bitter disappointment if it is struck down. For the rest of us it will be a blessing if it goes away. Obama had the right idea he just went about it the wrong way with the wrong policies. The only way to get something like this to work is to have more then half the people in the country behind it not just the 20 million who might have qualified for it.
In one form or another, Jack, it will become another gigantic Federal program which is little-understood, persistent in our choices and our lives, beurocratic, inefficient, and essentially unaffordable. It will acoomplish a few things to level the playing field on pre-existing conditions and the like. But, mostly, it will morph into another poker chip in the political process which will wend its way along with "free this" and "none of that," never tackling the underlying cost issues except via unicorn economics. It is a great opportunity being wasted by both parties, smug in their mantles of ideological vanity.
What's the future for President Obama's health care reform law?
The US Supreme Court will find that it IS Constitutional.
Once the Democrats get a Super Majority in the House and Senate there may be some tweaking for the good within the Act, like In surance Companies can NOT GOUGE us until it comes to be 100% and maybe even speed up that date to 2013 instead of 2014.
This ACT insures all so that those with the flu and NO Insurace can't clog our hospital ER's any longer.
The alternative is if this does not pass then is the GOP plan of taking away ALL health care for those who can't afford it. Let your kids, grandma, wife, husband, etc.. DIE
It is more cost effective to go with the ACT than to oppose it, monetarliy and LIVES.
Jenna
Roseville CA
The future of the Affordable Care Act rests with the hyper partisan, Conservative dominated, Supreme Court, which in the last 12 years has awarded the Presidency to the Conservative candidate for President during a disputed election and legalized the bribery of elected officials with Citizens United. Hell, Clarence Thomas’ wife, Ginni Thomas, founded Liberty Central, which is a hard-right think tank who’s core mission is ending the “Obama-agenda”, most notably the Affordable Care Act. Is he recusing himself? No. He’s going to do what he always does: Sit there, not say anything, take the far Right position, and go home to his massive house paid for by OUR TAX DOLLARS.
The Supreme Court embodies the complete corruption of our society and I suspect that their ruling on this case will demonstrate this.
Hopefully the bottom of a Wash. DC dumpster.....................the most productive future in sight.
The Afforbable Care Act will be very helpful for ALL Americans. I have yet to see a parent with a child under the age 26 NOT add them to their Medical insurance plan. Ask your fellow Republican.
JACK, THE SUPREME COURT WILL GIVE A 7-2 DECISION IN FAVOR OF ITS CONSTITUTIONALITY AND A SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM WILL BECOME LAW BEFORE THE END OF OBAMA'S 2ND TERM.
TOM, FOREST HILLS, PA
Jack: It is going to survive-and it is going to be very expensive-old saying--if you want to play--someone has to pay.
I think the Supreme Bozos will do nothing and punt it back to Congress. If it was me I would declare the mandate unconstitutional and throw out the whole deal. Doug, Pepperell, MA
It may take some bumps and changes along the way, but it will prevail. I haven't seen anything else better. Anything the Republicans will present will make things worse.
You're kidding, right? The Republicans own the Supreme Court. Remember when a Republican Supreme Court decided it wasn't necessary to count all the votes in Florida, and gave the White House to George Bush? We can expect a similar decision for ObamaCare – it's DOA.
It is my belief that the Supreme Court will legislate law from the bench again and overturn the current law. Any of these laws has good aspects and bad ones but we are required to buy auto insurance but not healthcare which to me if one is overturned then so should they both be.
My hope it that it survives to realize a future. The thing about healthcare is that it affects everybody and there's no getting around it. I don't care who you are, barring being hit head-on by a big mac truck, you WILL need it eventually. It knows no bounds of race, creed, color or gender.
The term "Obamacare" has successfully been promoted in our society to the level of such words as "Communism," "terrorist," and that dreaded of all words, "Socialism." Yet I would bet that 9 out of 10 people couldn't name one thing that it does or will provide. All they know is that it is something that is being "shoved down their throats." But sometimes the responsible thing to do IS shove something down peoples' throats, for their own good. Mark my words, the day will come when we will wonder why there was any question about it, just like slavery, women's rights and discrimination.
Susan
Mansfield, Ohio
I hope it's upheld because the "Republicancare" we had before amounted to "die quickly." The healthcare bill isn't perfect, but it's something to build on. I've already benefited from it and I know others who have, too. In any case, until it's fully enacted in 2014, no one has suffered any adversities because of it and court cases aren't decided on speculation.
The Supreme Court upholds its Constitutionality, the health care law becomes more popular as premiums decrease once health exchanges are established, Santorum and Gingrich become lobbyists for health insurance companies looking to keep all provisions intact after claiming divine guidance, and Romney, after the successful reversal of his lobotomy becomes HHS secretary during President Obamas second term.
We may know this week. The unpopular bill's constitutionality currently being challenged by 26 states in the Supreme Court.
Knowing the historically bad judgement of the Supreme Court, and it's willingness to be controlled by corporate influence, I would not be surprised at all to see health care reform wiped out. And not just this particular bill, but any and all bills that do not favor Big Pharma, HMOs, insurance companies and for-profit health organizations. We have the least citizen-friendly Supreme court in history doing the dirty work for corporate America.
Most likely, it will be upheld, will go fully into effect over the next few years, and will ultimately be seen as a positive reform.
It will never be fully implemented because it is a government takeover of the insurance industry. We are a country who values our free enterprise system and we do not want it managed by the government.
Hopefully it'll get through the Supreme Court intact. Clarence Thomas should recuse himself because his wife runs a lobbying group that wants to defeat the Affordable Care Act and gets paid to do so, but he's not honorable enough to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
If the Supreme Court destroys the Affordable Care Act, maybe that will open the door for a single payer system, which is what we should have had in the first place.
To uphold or not to uphold Obama-Care, that is the question facing US Supreme-Court swinger Justice Kennedy. Adding his "Yay" or "Nay" to an evenly split conservative-liberal-bent among his eight robed bench-mates, will not only determine the future of the president's crowning achievement, but perhaps even his chances for a second term. FIve-four's my prayer, four-five my dread ... glad it's not me swinging, sir, but you instead.
Pt. Roberts, WA. I do not know all the details of the proposed health care system, but one issue stands out today as the Supreme Court begins discussion. I keep hearing the word "buy," as in everyone must "buy" insurance. I believe this was a poor choice of words when the law was written. Is it not the intent to provide health insurance to all US citizens? If so, I believe the word should be changed to "have," as in everyone must "have" health insurance (e.g., as in Canada). Those who cannot afford it would be subsidized accordingly. Also, take out the "threat" of a "fine," and maybe the Bill has a chance of passing, with these 2 changes. Thanks for listening.
I hope the future is good but if a Republican gets elected then the only people who will have healthcare will be the wealthy. Obama care is the same kind of healthcare plan Sweden has and it covers everyone except for 8%. It is claimed to be the best healthcare in the world.
5-4. OVERTURNED. Just like in 2000. "In politics nothing happens by accident; if it happens you can BET it was planned that way" – FDR.
It seems like every administration does something to further erode our country and way of life. Now we have president Obama to put the finishing touches on our country. Am I the only one that can see what he is doing to our country? Or are we waiting, like in the movie "Tora Tora Tora" ( I think it is ), for confimation, like when the planes finally start dropping their bombs, " Theirs your confirmation ". If the health care plan went through with flying colors, we could accept it. But it was shoved down our throats. Who said this "Lets just pass the bill and see whats in it later" (or close to it). Now that we know some things that are in it, it doesn't look so good. If the right thing is done, it should be dispensed with, and started again with all involved in its composition, if thats even possible. The future is that it is going to be reformed but still not the best for our country!!
The future of Obama's health care law is whatever the power mongers and big moguls of the U.S. political ashtray can finagle out of the Supreme Court. Who's arguing for us who have less? Besides Obama, not many and certainly not the gold and oil barons or Republican party.
It looks to me like healthcare reform is about to get reformed. SCOTUS will probably rule against the mandate which will drive the need for reform version 2. Our broken government will then make public spectacles debating this tough issue until we're numb. I'm guessing people will lose interest in this movie around reform version 4 and nothing will get done.
Jack, the real question is what is the future for americans if the Supreme Court makes a partisan decision based on the 5-4 right-leaning split? That would be disaster for the already deteriorating health care rating of this country. I think that instead of meaning a loss of the election in November, it would galvanize more millions of uninsured, elderly, poor and moderate voters to join other Democrats in a major turnout to kick the GOP out in great numbers.
The mandate will be found to be a tax, the Commerce Clause issue will be ignored and the Medicaid issue will be laughed out the door of the Supreme Court building. Once community rating and gauranteed issue go into effect, however, the smart money will be on everyone dropping out of insurance until they get sick, at which point the stock of health insurers will collapse and they will either settle on a public option funded by a payroll tax or value added tax (VAT) in exchange for repealing mandates, gauranteed issue and commmunity rating or they won't compromise in time and bankruptcy will result in single-payer insurance funded in the same way. The payroll tax on non-wage income will effectively be passed to consumers, through higher prices and dividend payments, so this will probably be replaced by a straigth up VAT.
Any judge has any brain, it should pass. This law is intended to have passed for the good of the public. This has a lot of elaboration in legal field. Public Good is the motive of this legislation. Not Greed. o.k,. I am glad it is a law. It is saving millions of people in America. True., true, true. I am very confident of its passage through SC. I know the law. Nothing in it is unconstitutional. Your car payment is mandated. Your FICA is mandated. Your Medicare is Mandated. well, these are for the public good.
Why is this now being addressed? It should have been addressed before it got passed. If it is deemed unconstitutional, all I can say is "What a waste of time and money....on everyone's part! Its like being given a license to manufacture cars only to be told you can't sell them..... after thousands have rolled off the assembly line. Back to the drawing board.!
I hope it is a bright future. It will save us money, individuality and as a country. The falsehoods spread by some are just that and need to be exposed. Some folks, however, will continue to believe the people who shout vulgarities, make up stories and redefine the truth. The Democrats and right thinking Republicans need to explain the plan so that some of these mislead folks can see the truth of it.
It's hard to say what will be decided or when for that matter. But we do know that it will most likely be a 5 – 4 decision along ideological lines. I doubt that the Framers thought that after the other 2 branches of government had their ideological food fight, passed and had a bill signed into law that the most powerful branch could overturn their work with their own ideological bent. How disheartening it might be for them to see their efforts used to serve an ideology rather than the common good.
Jack – To be perfectly honest – I think they will eventually "tweak" it – whether a republican gets in, or whether an incumbent stays in for another 4 yrs. By that time – there will be more people that will be benefitting from the new health care law – the bottom line is – the new law will eventually bring in more doctors from other countries – to come into the u.s. and practice – the bottom line is that health care will be more competitive – instead of a few Doctors from other countries studying here / going to college here / to get their doctorate / MD's / & etc – & working here, there will be a Flood of Dr's that will want to come here to work in this country – and more hospitals built – compared to what we've got now. In other words, If a typical Doctor makes 500K or more, it will cut down their pay, with more Doctors flooding the Health Care market, and hence it will be much more competitive, where people can actually start looking around, and finding a Doctor who would be more suitable for them, and in essence, they will find one that will 'cater to' the problem they have, and address it in a fashion that won't be like putting people in a "barrel" and saying that most people have the same problems, so they treat them all with the same meds, Just so they can get an office call, and prescribe the patients an RX. At the end of the day, it's easy work for the doctors to do this, these days.
Larry in Houston
the future is it get's repealed and they start over with again this time let us know what is in the bill before passing it without reading some more than 2,000 pages this time read and let your boss knows what is in the new bill oh the boss is the taxpayers but what am i talkign about congress does the opposite of what we want
I'm not sure I entirely understand the argument for repeal... The idea that the government can't and shouldn't regulate our behavior is a little silly. It can, and the bill was voted on by the congress... Sorry, but this is exactly what the constitution is DESIGNED for. The people want healthcare... So we voted into law something that gets the ball rolling for a national health plan. This is completely legal. Or are we not allowed to vote for things we want anymore...? Is big insurance in control now?
There may adjustments to conform to the ones that want is fine tuned but it is here to stay like it or not.
Whatever the U.S. Supreme Court says it, and given the split in the Court of late, it would seem to have a good future. The Supreme Court has released some surprisingly unsound decisions of late, seemingly based less on precedent and rule of law and more on the political preferences of the Court members, so an opinion either avoiding a ruling (law against tax injunctions anyone?), or outright finding that the expansion of the powers of Congress over the past 75 years permits the law, the ground has been laid for the Court to support something a majority of Americans oppose.
I hope the future is that it is allowed to live. How can people forget this president watched his mother on her deathbed on the phone pleading with her insurer to cover her treatments? How can we all forget all the children with asthma or autism or down syndrome that these insurance companies would love to drop from coverage to help their bottom line? or what about all those on medicare with pre existing conditions? The Ryan plan would force them onto the open market at the same time the supreme court could be telling insurance companies they have regained the right to drop sick people like a hot potatoe! Is anyone THINKING out there how those two republican efforts will come together?
I certainly hope it gets upheld but if not, it dooms all Americans to a very broken and inefficient health insurance system. Obama's Health Reform Law may be flawed and lacking but its one positive step and apparently, the best we can do when one party owns all three branches of government. So whats the alternative?
That depends on who wins in November. If the Republicans win it's toast and patients who don't have money or health insurance become victims; including millions of young adults just starting out or in college who will no longer be eligible on their parent's insurance policies.
If the Democrats win it will be nice first step to joining the civilized world where health care is available to everyone.
I believe that the healthcare reform law will remain essentially untouched, though with some delineations placed on it by Congress and the Supreme Court. Too many people support the law to allow it to be repealed, and no one will enjoy having the Supreme Court once again dramatically change a political decision, or need I remind you of Election 2000 and Bush vs Gore?
So let met get this straight; 15% of the population have no healthcare but the rest of us, the 85% do. And you want the federal goverment to insure those 15% by messing up what we have with our employers by raising our premiums? And the fed's do such a great job with everything else: Amtrack, USPS, Social Security and Medicare, and...
Are you people stupid or what?
Mark in BC NV
It will get killed and as Zakaria points out, it doesn't matter because the legislation does nothing to deal with out of control health care costs. Sit down, and create a bipartisan bill that deals with escalating costs.
Obama's health plan needs to be STRONGER and more inclusive - right now it's a watered down weakling of what we were promised and expected. Of course, we can thank the wealthy republicans for every drop of that water used to weaken it. I am for all-out universal healthcare - socialized medicine. Try living with medicare a little while, and you will agree. The republicans are all about taking away benefits we have worked for all our lives. Only the wealthy can afford to think like that.
As a Massachusetts Resident under "Romney Care" i can tell you that our system is much better than a decade ago. My Blue Cross Blue Shield premium this year only increased 5%. That is much lower than any year over the last 10 years. Factcheck.org has a great review of the truths about "Romney Care" Everyone should read it – including Gingrich and Santorum. They are just lying about what is happening in Massachusetts.
Wake up people, health care is only a privelige for the priveliged. Thats the Repub spin on this. Healthcare is the right of every citizen rich or poor. Shame on you repubs
I don't know. I suspect that the Court will split along political lines, with Kennedy being the swing vote, but I can't predict how Kennedy will vote.
I also think there's a lot of ignorance among the folks you're polling–this is the same group that thinks a bureaucrat should not be making health care decisions best left to the doctor, but apparently have no problems with an insurance company employee, who is told his only concern is the company's profits, making those same health care decisions instead of the doctor. Remember all the seniors protesting outside Capitol Hill, waving their Medicare cards and chanting "keep gov't hands off my Medicare", apparently forgetting or not knowing at all that Medicare IS gov't health care. This morning on C-Span one of the guests stated that more than 1/3 of Americans polled think that the health care law has already been repealed. Others must listen only to the GOP broadcast network, Sarah Palin, and Rush Limbaugh, who howl about "death panels" while not realizing or not caring that insurance companies decide every minute of every day to deny drugs, operations, and other health care to people that would save their lives because doing so interfers with their profits.
I'm hoping that the Court throws out the case based on ripeness (the individual mandate and many other parts of the law don't go into effect until 2014)–you can't sue someone based on something that MIGHT effect you in the future. You have to have suffered an injury now, not 2 years in the future (maybe).
And there are many things the law gets right–insurance companies can't throw you out when, after 35 years of paying ever-increasing premiums, they discover you have a pre-existing condition, so they dump you when you get sick. Keeping young adults on their parents' insurance is a good thing too. Let's face it–health insurance is incredibly expensive to purchase on your own. One month's premium would cost more than I make in a month, which means I'd have to live in a cardboard box and not eat in order to have health insurance.
Something has to be done, and in my opinion the law didn't go far enough. I would have preferred to have single-payer, so people can cross state lines, leave jobs, etc. without worrying about not having health insurance. And I would have preferred a public option–military get TriCare forever (and their spouses and dependents), elderly and disabled get Medicare, Congress gets a nice package–how about something for the rest of us, who don't want to lose our homes or worry about losing our jobs after working all of our lives the moment we get sick?
The future is in the hands of Supreme Court politicians...I mean, justices, Jack.
It will come down to Anthony Kennedy, considered by many to be the "swing" vote on the current Court, to decide whether some, all or none of the Affordable Healthcare Act remains in place. Regardless of the Court's decision, the Hyperbole, politically driven Disinformation and blatant Mendacity will have the populace whipped into a frenzy, further dividing the Country at a time when we need to be coming together. The things some of our political "Leaders" do for short term gain is simply shameful and it makes me deeply troubled about the long term prospects of this Republic.
The states voting against Obamacare all have Republican governors. Every westernized nation but the US has a national healthplan. The R's are always talking about individual responsibility, yet they are voting against the very idea that each person should hold some responsibility for their own healthcare. I purshase healthcare but my neighbor does not as he wants to spend his money on other things. He goes to the hospital and the law says he must be treated but, with no healthcare of his own, yours and my money pays for his care. Come on Republicans – you can not have it both ways. Let us hope the Supreme Court acts in the best interest of all Americans – support Obamacare.
I have not seen polling that indicates "of those currently without coverage, how many are for it or against it?"
and "of those currently with coverage, how many are for or against it?"
and" of those against it, how many just HATE President Obama and anything he does?
If you are against Obamacare, then 1) come up with a system that will insure the uninsured. 2) Keep the public form paying for the emergency room visits of the uninsured.
Well Jack, He wasted almost two years playing grown up in the room, having the debate over this health care whilst the airwaves were bombarded Big Health Care money saying how bad it was. When he didn't even fight one iota for a public option I pretty much threw in the towel on this new health care solving anything. In order to fight the greedy corporate powers that be, President Obama needed to start the ball rolling on his campaign promise to end Scooter Libby Justice and start the investigations of all the crimes committed by the Bush Administration, instead it's hey lets waste more time trying to get half a campaign promise carried out. After he dropped the public option, I could care less anyway. So to answer your question, who cares ?
After watching on Frontline how the thing was compromised from the beginning just to keep it alive, I think it should be tanked and start over. This time, keep the wolves away. Pelosi should be ashamed of herself for pushing something that she did not even know what it contained for certain, just to say "SEE WHAT I DID".
If this law goes down, the Congress should introduce a bill next Monday that allows persons between 60 and 65 to
purchase Medicare at actuarially sound rates.
Next year a bill allowing 55-59 to do so.
And so on.
I hear all of the GOP and a lot of other folks as well screaming about this law. What I don't hear is a plan that is gonna replace it if it is killed. Health care is a MESS in this country and to all those who want this law repealed I say this "What can YOU offer up that is better'?. With the right to complain comes the responsibility to suggest a solution.
Jack,
I think that if the Supreme Court does not overturn the health care act ( i.e.; ObamaCare ) we may start calling ourselves the Socialist States of America ... as the Constitution will have been ignored in Grand Fashion.
We certainly need reform based on the rising costs etc, but to throw away the constitution in the process is disturbing.
What if we did the following ....
1. EVERYONE has an HSA
2. Companies sell insurance or not ( no pre-existing conditions etc )
3. Tear down all of the artificial walls
4. Revisit the market conditions in ~5 years and make adjustments from there
and respect the constitution!!!!
Mark
Obamacare has got to go because with the 500 million dollars per year in cuts to Medicare is discrimination in the highest degree against seniors and the disabled. The only thing from Obamacare that the court should keep is preventing insurance companies to refuse to give health insurance to those with pre-existing conditions. Other than that the Supreme court needs to remove Obamacare. We need real healthcare reform and Obamacare doesn't cut it.
Number one...there are too many exemptions. The unions are exempt, certain religious groups are exempt. So that means only certain hardworking taxpayers are going to be stuck with the cost of Obamacare. Second...the cost for the program has doubled from the original estimate of $900 billion to $1.8 trillion. It is a 2700 page mess that is reaching into our daily lives where the government shouldn't be. The HHS will now control our everyday lives just like they control and set mandates for what parents can send in their homade lunches for their school children. We have to get rid of all this intrusion by the government. It seems like former communist country's are having more freedom and the United States government under Obama is putting more controls on American citizens. We need Mitt Romney now more than ever to get this country straightened out. We are already broke we don't need another debt machine like ObamaCare. We need Mitt Romney!
Jack – the operative word "OBAMACARE" instead of HEALTH CARE is the reason some don't want it. (they don't even understand how it will work and benefit us all and don't even care to learn) As a nurse, it's sad to see AMERICA'S health care rest in the hands of GREEDY politicians instead of peoples hearts and minds to do the right thing. Sad jack, very sad!
Jack, our focus needs to be on the efficient delivery of healthcare to Americans over the decades to come. This requires cooperation and work on many fronts. Concentrating our resources on one bill (if you are a Republican) or claiming victory (if you are the President) will not get us there. Once again it is time to forget political posturing and attack a real problem.
There is no such thing as "Obamacare." It is the Affordable Health Care Act. Call it by it's correct name and people will respond appropriately.
I'm against the current law because it didn't go far enough! Single Payer is the only way to get it done right. The Republicans say the government should not be allowed to take away our freedom of choice. What they don't say is that those choices they want to protect involve choosing between healthcare and eating or sleeping in out of the rain. They think we want to choose between starving or dying of illness due to lack of healthcare? This is not freedom of choice, it's trying to choose the lesser of two evils or if you will, the lesser of two deaths! Does anyone remember the movie "Sophie's Choice" do you think she would rather have not had the freedom to be "Forced to Choose'! Does a mother have to choose between allowing one child to die of sickness so the other won't die of starvation! They just don't get it.
I hope it has NO FUTURE at all. Why don't we just provide HC for those who can't afford it, and leave the rest of us alone.
Why should those who live a healthy life pay for those who smoke, do drugs, drink and eat too much, etc?? Ridiculous!!
Just more of the government NOOSE around our necks.
You should ask the question
"What's the future in absence of President Obama's health care reform law?"
When you mention the parts of the bill separate from the name "Obamacare", more than 60% like the bill.
It will stay law, and not be repealed. People will soon get used to the idea that everyone deserves a chance at good insurance. We will go on about our business, and in 10 years Republicans will be clamoring to be claiming that it was their idea.
Jack, I was turned down for medical insurance when I retired and sold my company. Did everything by the book and paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for my employees to have health coverage for 20 years. I have slightly elevated cholesterol that I inherited and all the big carriers turned me down. Until people start losing their health care they won't understand and won't care. I now pay $34,000 a year for my family to have health insurance. Who can afford that? Just the rich. My feeling is everyone is required to buy car insurance and therefore everyone should be required to buy health insurance. If the Supreme Court overturns Obama Care, their just a bunch of elitist that don't really know the facts. They would think much differently if they lost it or were turned down. Just for the record, I was a Republican and now I'm a Democrat and it's all because of what the President has done about this subject. He obviously gets it. Clint Pierce-Lakwood Ranch, FL
I suppose that if the health care law goes away, I can join my Republican friends in ditching my non-required health care insurance. Then I can join the freeloaders in getting free health care at the emergency rooms in town. Never thought I'd see right wingers wanting to have services given and have others pay for it, but there's an awful lot of yelling for that these days.
If it is overturned, may God help us. May God help those with no insurance. May God help those parents whose child is sick and suffering who would have no means to pay for that child's recovery except going bankrupt. May God help that woman who is going thru cancer treatment but can't afford it, let us all sit back and watch her die. Let us sit back and watch the insurance and the medical industry reign in more dollars at the expense of the lpeople.. The people. the forgotten ones. MAY GOD HELP US
The media's reporting of the disapproval of this law is deceptive at best. While half of American's don't approve of the law, a good portion of that percentage doesn't approve it because it's not "liberal" enough (i.e. No public option). Another gripe I have is that I don't understand how people, other than those who want it to be more liberal, do not like this law. The healthcare reform law doesn't REQUIRE you to purchase insurance; it just penalizes you for not having it through taxes. Yes, if you decide you don't want insurance, then get sick and don't pay your hospital bills/file bankruptcy, why should I have to foot the bill for you by being assessed higher premiums?? For those who argue "I'm healthy, I don't need insurance," again- thats great, until you need it. Then I have to pay for you b/c you can't afford the consequences of not having it? You deserved to be taxed- at least it somewhat evens the balance.
This is a law that needs to be refined. Not all of it is bad and not all of it is good. At a time when our country needs a working congress more than ever, we have the current bunch that would rather disagree and posture more than they want to solve real problems. We lost our triple A rating over thier bickering and it seems like the thing they are most afraid of is being caught talking to the other side of the isle working to govern together.
We can have George Bush's 2 trumped up bogus wars which have produced 5000 Americans dead, tens of thousands maimed physically and emotionally, millions of innocent people dead in Iraq and Afghanistan, the upset of the world dynamic in really messed up countless ways with accompanying cultures of hatred between Muslims and Christians with a price tag of trillions and counting . . . and we have a beef with a universal healthcare system that we can't afford because of George Bush's wars because they've thrown us into a frigging economic mess freefall, unable to take care of American's health care needs.
I hope they look at it fairly, but fear they will be making a political decision, not a just one.
Unfortunately, I believe that the health reform "mandate" will fail. The only way to sustain a Government sponsored health program is to institute an national tax on ALL fincancial transactions, and order all Health Insurance companies to truly be NOT-FOR PROFIT! It is disgusting that such insurer's pay dividends instead of reinvesting all resources in caring for their clients!
why is it called obama care when it is what both sides of the isle gave us. i have no problem overturning the so called "Obamacare" as long as a plan is passed to replace it the same day! doug in knoxville ar
I think the Roberts court will stear clear of making what might seem to be a politically-influenced decision. The law will be upheld by a 7-2 decision, Alito and Thomas desenting. You can bet on it!
We need to keep the healthcare reform law in place for those of us who need medications to survive. Under this law I was able to stay under my mom's insurance from her company, which has been very helpful. I've had surgeries and scares in the past few years that I would never have been able to pay for by myself. I recently got put on some birth control that costs without insurance 300 dollars. WHO HAS THAT KIND OF MONEY TO BLOW? Certainly not me or my family. I need the healthcare reform law so that I can continue to live.
It will survive. Calm down. Too many of Clinton's and Obama's socialist on the court. And, the so-called moderates don't have the nerve to vote against it. It's where our country is headed. DOWN,DOWN,DOWN.....
I am Canadian, we have had government ran healthcare for decades and no one (politician or citizen) wants to get rid of it. The rest of the world thinks your country is nuts for not figuring out that government healthcare is the way to go (just like education and roads)
If the law is found to be unconstitutional in part or all, President Obama should get Medicare for ALL passed.
Dead perhaps!
Jack, the individual mandate will be struck down as unconstitutional, but will be severed from the act and most provisions will be upheld. Because the bench is conservative majority by only one, this would be the easiest way for the court to dismantle the current bill without setting a precedent that national healthcare is unconstitutional. In effect, it would be the easiest way to form a majority opinion.
if you don't like Obama care, or the ridiculous amounts of oversight on the insurance industry, simply repeal the insurance industries exemption from anti-trust laws. This exemption makes laws like "Obamacare" necessary, because the corporations designed to make money, don't have to play by the same rules as everyone else. End the exemption, and you could easily repeal almost every law pertaining to insurance companies relatively overnight. The market will work it out.
Given that a similar right-wing, activist Supreme Court disallowed the counting of votes in Gore vs. Bush, back in 2000, I would expect the health care decision would be politically motivated as well.
Our government tells us we must have vehicle insuance to drive a car or pay a penalty so why are people saying this mandatory health insurance is something new?
It may fail. It is highly hypocritical that Americans can be very giving and caring, yet when it comes to healthcare no one really wants to share the burden. The mandate is good, but should include an opt out provision that also allows hospitals and emergency rooms to deny care to those without insurance or proof of funds! Sick and tired in overpaying for medical care because of those who abuse the system. PREVENTION is the KEY!
Don't know. But I can say that I have reached the point that I pay for everyone else's dental care (through medicade and other taxes) but can not afford my own repairs now. Ironic. The dentist advertise to the paying customers: rich and governement fed. So this issue is interesting on many levels. I think the most striking problem however is that americans can not seem to mind their own business anymore and think it is perfectly acceptable to run someone else's life and we can't seem to help ourselves anymore; this law will give somebody the perfect vehicle to dictate weight and other habits. Kind of depressing no matter how it fans out.
70% of America believing something with all its heart should not empower Supreme Court discretion outside a rational judicial interpretation of law. Rationale and interpretation are where the "rubber meets the road" in judicial law, so expect to witness whether those definitions will afford the court some wiggle-room.
If the government can force you to buy heath insurance, where does it stop. Where has your freedom living in America gone.
Jack, I approve of ObamaCare 'cause I can't afford the expensive private policies. Although if the US Supco kills the individual mandate then I should be able to drop my car insurance, right? Anyway the law will stand 'cause the feds have already pushed states into laws that affect the public good, i.e. the 55-mph limit, 21 drinking age, etc.
Fred, Menominee MI
Jacl have you ever bought health care insurance for you or your family? a healthy person can expect to pay over 700 a month for a single and much much more for a family. Now if you or your family has a pre-existing condition forget it. Your not getting insured or you had better be in the 1%. Affordable health care allows people to afford health care. On your Maria senerio today they showed Maria at 25,000 paying 1700 something a YEAR. Try and get that with out ObamaCare. Good luck.
President Obama's healthcare law will never be read by the majority of people who oppose or support because people are still depending on the Government to tell them what's good or bad for them regardless of the political party.
I hope it's toast. It scares us small business owners. It's already raised our insurance we have through my husband's work. We pay 2X more for the premiums and the $20 co-pays with a $350 deductible jumped to a flat $4,500 PER PERSON out deductible before anything is covered and our out of pocket max shot up from $2,000 to $7,000. It's also limiting our flexible spending deduction and what we can deduct. This is one of the few tax breaks the lower and middle income people have. I hope we're done with Obamacare come Nov and that they will first use some common sense answers like opening up the state lines so insurance companies can compete. Something that simple can make a difference. It's not the answer and we need real answers not a plan that so full of pork and special interest deals that it's less about health care and more about political favors.
The people that resent the bill the most are the ones who are NOT insured and use the ER as a doctors office. If the law is repealed maybe the uninsured should not be treated in the ER with their bill is passed on to those with insurance to pay. This is part of the reason for the rising cost in healthcare. The other issue is the insurance refusing to cover people with existing conditions or they drop the people that get ill, this lets the insurance reap large profits while death happens. The doctors should be able to operate with the same principles.
Jack, it will certantly stay as a law. The fact is most of the people who oppose the law are eithwr afraid of the change it will bring or simply don't know whata actuallu in it. Let the republicans have their empty talks.
My hometown has a chain hospital owned by a very large medical corporation, they own hospitals all over the United States, at this medical chain hospital a simple colonoscopy costs nearly $10,000, you can go to the next city 27 miles away, their city owned hospital a colonoscopy costs little over $3000.
Mega-corporation chain hospitals all over the United States “They Are Gouging Medical Costs”, they are one of the biggest problems causing the medical costs to skyrocket, “”this need to be dealt with by the government””.
Research and find out ask questions who own your hospital; I bet it is a mega chain hospital gouging medical costs, “and all of that money is leaving your city and going to another”.
These mega chain hospitals make so much money, they have congressmen and senators and governors running interference for them, covering their backs that is how they are getting away with this robbery of the American people.
And I bet president Obama knows about this problem.
So President Obama’s health care law is doomed; there is just too much money being made off of people who are sick.
Jack, we are mandated to buy house insurance, we are also mandated to buy car insurance. How is mandate to buy health insurance any different from above two? More importantly how exactly republicans plan to repeal the law? There will be a vote to which probably half will vote against it. There will be a vote in supreme court where they will too have a split decision and constitutionality will be thrown out as basis for repeal. If it is against constitution to mandate anything on people then why are we REQUIRED to buy car insurance Jack? I would love to see a line in constitution for THAT.
Obamacare should benrepealednbecausemit is unconstitutional. Insurance companies shouldn't be able to restrict customers or competition in treatments or plans but we cannot give the Government the power to tell us what care we can or cannot receive. as usual, the Governement is not addressing the problems it is making more problems and failing to solve others.
I am totally amazed at how many people base their opinions of the Affordable Care Act based on the lies and distortions that are out there. That is sad. Somebody said instead of having Obamacare, the greedy insurance companies should be regulated. Duh...regulation of the insurance companies is an important part of the bill. I am hopeful the Supreme Court will uphold it, the Republicans will continue to destroy themselves and the remaining portions of the bill will be successfully implemented and tweaked as needed with bi-partisan support.
The future is excellent. If Obamacare is overturned, we go back to the old system called Medicaid. With Obamacare, you buy your own insurance. With Medicaid, the Taxpayer buys you government insurance because hospitals can turn no one away. Hold on a second, I thought the GOP was for smaller government and pay your own way. Now they are suing to block free market health insurance, and expand government socialism where the taxpayer will pay more other people's insurance. Now I am really confused. .
It's a pretty right wing bunch Jack. These are the same guys who brought us Citizens United. Is there really any mystery about how this will play out?
I don't understand how there can be a law requiring car insurance, yet everyone is up in arms about a requirement for health insurance. When people get sick and don't have insurance they make the rest of us pay for it anyway in emergency room visits. So why not legitimize the whole system and make America healthier in the process!
It's doomed. America loves overspending and uncoordinated social programs.
I hope they uphold the law. Those that disagree to it should have complained along time ago when they started to pay for Medicare. If they dislike it so much then they ought to turn in their Medicare and Social Security cards. I bet they won't.
that's easy Jack,
If you have money, it doesn't matter, if your a Republican you hate it because it's politics, if your poor you need Obama care,if your retired like me you pray it stays.
This is not about the American people, it's about the Republicans doing and saying anything they can to win
Gman
New Jersey
I think that Obamacare like it or not will impact everyone. If it passes it will make business struggle and people unhappy since it violates their rights. If it fails people will die and we will still be one of the largest counties in the world without an universal health care. I think that the facts need to be out there on what's really going on. Many think its a huge deficit and yet no one knows what's happening. Most people just don't want any more spending and I think that's the real reason why many people reject this plan.
the supreme left the court, several years ago, we can expect anything nowadays, without logic
Healthy, Wealthy & Conservative will magically change into Broke & Liberal as soon as Catastrophic Health occurs to said Vainglorious Neo-Cons ... How'd Cheney get a new heart? Not that he ever HAD ONE, ... & He's on The Government Dole, if I read THOSE Facts correctly ...
Harry from Ellijay Georgia
The question shouldn't be whats the future for Obama, the question should be whats the future for the sick, and the millions of people that will be denied healthcare if this rule gets overturned. the problem is the GOp has no plan and never did have a plan for reducing the high cost of preiums most people can't afford anymore. The only plan I keep hearing from Republicans is to unseat the current president. Alan Greason the Representitave from florida was right when he said Republicans just want you to die
hey folks, ya have to pay a fine (not a tax because it doesn not generate revenue, taxes do) and that $700 is only about $59.00 a month....and then you can go to any emergency room and get FREE health care paid for by the rest of us...isn't that great...but wait there's more...if scotus overturns it, and gives your health care back to your insurance company and not your doctor...don't get sick..ever....could be kicked out...and here's an idea...remove all employers from health care completely...savings billions in corporation spending...and make health care non-profit....something to think about....
At my age, carrying my own health insurance would cost $850 per month! I would much rather be strong-arm robbed by the government for a $700 per year fine!
The affordable care act will be found constitutional, with Scalia and Roberts joining the liberal "bloc"-Roberts to write the opinion of the majority to add to his legacy of the Roberts court and to balance out decisions such as Citizens United, and Scalia for recognizing that health care for all Americans is to important that Congress' use of the Commerce Clause was appropriate but not as precedent for its use in future situations.
There are too many hidden costs. We have employees that will quit our company because they will qualify for subsidies from the government for healthcare, and they openly say that they are only working for the benefits, anyway. Why should employers provide health insurance and have to compete with the federal government for employees?
Jack, the future of PPACA is fine—when those waiving and flailing there arms [mostly Tea Party] wake up and find they have been duped? Made suckers of by the “profit-takers” who skim tens of billion of dollars out of our healthcare system in America—purely in the name of GREED! If America fails, it will be because of IGNORANCE and GREED—and we have an abundance of both on this subject!
If you want to drive a car you have to own auto insurance, if you don't you pay a penalty, and can loose your license. If the law is overturned I hope congress enacts a law so those that do not have health insurance can be turned away when seeking services. Why should my taxes pay for someone's hospital bill that refuses to purchase health insurance. Your taxes don't pay for the damage I cause in an automobile accident when I don't have auto insurance. Uphold this law!
The main purpose of a national government is to protect it's people. The leading causes of death and suffering in the US are all medically related. I think it's time the government starts doing it's job of protecting it's people by giving us the healthcare we all need!
Why is it Jack that Democrats, Independents and Republicans alike have no answer to the singular "independent mandate" question in this discussion, i.e. what do they all propose to do to address the $116 billion in annual unpaid services to the uninsured and the more than $1,000 in annual insurance costs added to the average American family's budgets?
Don't know what will happen to the so called "Obama Care" law, but I have a serious question for the Republican presidential candidates who have pledged to repeal Obama Care the first day in office. My question to them is if its going to be so easy to repeal the Health-Care Reform Act then why does the U S Supreme Court need to review the law as it presently stand? Also, what about the fact that U S laws which are enacted and/or repealed must be done by the U S Congress, not the President
He campaigned on the public option, he gave us the individual mandate instead. Wrong decision! I like Obama better than any of the GOP clowns trying to run against him, but this is one instance where I'm rooting for the Republicans. Forcing insurance on people whether they can afford it or not, and then fining them if they don't get it (like that'll solve their ability to afford it!) is just plain wrong. Hmm . . . bad healthcare act or no healthcare act . . . are these really the only choices our government can give us? It's almost enough to make me pack up and move to a country where they have a good healthcare system that makes sense . . . if I could afford to.
If the justices have any sense at all they will uphold the law. Almost all other top industrial nations have some form of government mandated care and their costs are half of what we pay in a free market system and the quality of care is just as good if not better. We are a first world nation with a third world problem. Republicans need to get out of the pockets of the insurance and drug companies and do what is right for the American people. Or perhaps the health and well being of our citizens just an after thought to profit and political corruption.
Sure teh republicians want to abolish Obama healthcare. that way they can still be lobbyist for the healthcare companies
in washington. which pays them hundreds of thousands of dollars. yearly
Let's see.... The Republican candidates oppose Obamacare because it is forced on people who don't want it. I assume they want people who don't buy insurance and wind up in an emergency room to die without treatment. But they want to force their ideas on abortion and contraception on those who don't want those ideas. I assume they will hold God responsible for miscarriages. Human life begins at conception, after all. Am I the only one who sees this as laughable?
I just watched a story you aired on 3/26/12 about the Affordable Care Act in which fictional characters were used for illustration. Your examples of someone making $80,000/yr would pay about $4500 under the mandate for insurance while someone making $25,000 would pay about $1700. This explains what would be, but not what is today. I have not had employer provided insurance since the year 2000. My health status is that since the mid 1990's I have had high blood pressure and high cholesterol, both of which have been completely controlled by 3 very inexpensive drugs (about $17 per month). From 2000 to 2005 I was covered under my wife's employer insurance. In 2005 we relocated and my wife retired so we obtained insurance with Golden Rule Insurance, a United Healthcare company. The premium for both of us was $1258/qtr ($5032/yr or $419/mo). By December of 2008 the premium had climbed to $1815/qtr ($7260/yr or $605/mo), a 44% increase. We were able to lower the premium to $1581/qtr ($6324/yr or $527/mo) by changing our policy to a high deductable policy with a $10,000 deductible. Basically a catastrofic policy which moves the costs of health care to the policyholder. One year later, 10/1/09, Golden Rule raised the premium to $1981/qtr ($7924/yr or $660/mo.), a 25% increase in 1 year with a $10,000 deductible. One year later, 10/10/10, Golden Rule again raised the premium to $2061/qtr ($8244/yr or $687/mo), a 4% increase. On 4/1/2012, Golden Rule again raised the premium to $2601/qtr ($10,404/yr or $867/mo), a 26% increase with the $10,000 deductible still in effect! This makes the prospect of paying only $1700 under the Affordable Care Act seem like a gift from God! Our income is derived from my Social Security of about $1600/month or $19,200/yr plus approx. $6,000/yr in interest, supplemented by a $20,000 drawdown of our savings. Without the $10,000 in health insurance premiums our savings would last twice as long. Fortunately, at least for us, I will be eligible for Medicare in about 14 months. We do not know what insurance for my wife will cost at that point, but I can be assured it will be MORE than $1700 per year if the Affordable Care Act is NOT completely enacted. What the hell is the matter with the opponents of this legislation?? Perhaps they have not lost their jobs. Perhaps they are under some type of pension that pays for their insurance. Perhaps they have military benefits. Perhaps they have employer insurance. Perhaps they need a reality check and should be required to pay for their own insurance. Perhaps they should all be required to pick up the first $10,000 in health care each year. Maybe then they would understand
Well, if the SC can make a corporation into a person, God only know what they will do with health care. I think the suit will be thrown out and the GOP and FOX will eat a lot of crow between now and November. After all, it is a very conservative court, but the difference is, they know the Constitution.
my wife a nurse is in complete support of this law. she feels that it hasn't be explained properly and that is why so many people seem to be against it. the gop pundits and politicians have been scaring the people with false facts that make it seem that this law is going to take away freedoms for the people to choose. this is not the case and what most people don't seem to know that our representatives and senators in washington get federally supported health insurance for life the republican members don't seem to want to share this information with the american people. they don't need to worry about health insurance like we do.
Wrong question, Jack. The question should be 'what will the Republicans propose to replace the current law'? Many Americans, especially women, will lose coverage, insurance companies can continue to deny insurance for pre-existing conditions, limits to coverage will return, and millions will continue to seek care at emergency rooms. If the law is overturned in June, it will assure re-election for Obama, who will then be able to hold Republicans feet to the fire to explain their non existing plans to replace the current law.
The GOP is doing its best to destroy the effort to destroy the President's efforts that ALL Americans have access to health care; thus it has spread lies about the health care law to make it sound like it's the end of America as we know it. Ironically, every other major industrialized nation has a national health care plan which serves it citizens well. Even the epitome of conservative thinking Switzerland has a national health care plan which the people thoroughly support and enjoy to their good. But, the GOP makes health care seem like a privilege and not a matter of life and death, which it surely can be. Ironically, the we the taxpayers of America just paid for Cheney's heart transplant. Too bad there are others waiting for a heart but lack the insurance or money to have that opportunity. I guess, hearts are for the rich and powerful.
If health care reform gets repealed then what? We go back to the beyond broken system we already had? Yes Republicans we've already had bureaucrats in suits standing between us and our doctors and ruling in favor of their bottom line. If "Obamacare" isn't the answer then what is? I haven't heard anyone on the hill stepping up with a better idea!
I just watched Jack Cafferty talk about "Obama Care." It is called The Affordable Care act, Obama Care is a made up name to propagandize to people who are against all things associated with Obama or the Democratic Party. Please, call things by there right names, not by politically charged ones.
One reason the polls come in opposing "Obamacare" is because the anti-Obamacare machine has spent over $207 million opposing it and spewing inaccurate, misleading information, whereas the pro-Obamacare (Healath & Human Services) have only spent $58 million to get their message across. If you ask the 17 million children who can no longer be denied care for a pre-existing condition, such as cancer, or the twenty million women who have received preventive care, such as mammograms, HIV testing, and cervical cancer screenings, without having a co-pay, I would imagine they are all pro-"Obamacare". Also approximately 18 million young adults benefit as they can still be covered under their parent;s plans. Its a shame the opponents to the Affordable Healthcare Act have not spent as much time and energy being pro-active and working to find a way to reform our healthcare system, instead of doing nothing but trashing it.
Gabby's and Cheney's healthcare for ALL!!
All citizens of the US deserve the same healthcare as our government workers (local, state and federal).
We pay for their healthcare....it should be available to all citizens in one giant insurance pool.
What's the future for President Obama's health care reform law?
The high court should overturn it. Better to be sick and dying than to live with socialist government ran medical care.
It will depend if the court rules for "we the people" or for corrupt politicians. It is a shame that the United States, Statesmen would rather support war around the world than peace and health care for its people with our tax monies. The countries that tax their people and take and build a healthy and peaceful nation, are happier people and live longer. It's a sad country when our politicians fight and quarrel rather than solve our problems. And the Capitalists through money at them like a sporting event.
As a devout Republican, I want everyone to be FREE! Free to buy their own Health Insurance. If they can not afford it, too bad. They should have worked harder!
If enough people get sick or injured, the insurance rates will go down for the rest of us!
I know many of you want this healthcare repeal, but I hope you all know that it is not Obama that will suffer because he has one of the best care anyone can get. All he tried to do is give many people in this country access to care but you say he is doing something wrong. One things that piss me off is when I hear people talk about I do not want my tax dollar to be used to take care of others, My question is where are you when you stupid tax dollars is given to Isreal, and many other countries for whatever it is and you do not complain, but for that same money to be used for your fellow citizens and you say know. I have never been to California but from what I heard, there are many Homeless people and as a nation that say is the rischest in the world, dont you think it is a shame you have those peole there and I pray many of you have time and money to travel to Europe then you will see the diffrence of how a society is with no homeless and what have you. Also I want to ask a question too, CAN YOU DRIVE WITHOUT A CAR INSURANCE? I know in some states you can but my point is that I do not hear many of you saying the Governmnet cannot make me get Car Insurance but yet this is healthcare and you cpmplain and so I want you to explain the difference to me and why you complain about healthcare insurance and do not when it is car insurance please explain.
Justice Kennedy is the wild card.... Hopefully, it remains in place or slightly modified. Jack... you failed to mention in your polling that 10% of those against the law are opposed to it because it didn't go far enough.
People keep forgetting that the Individual Mandate is a Conservative Principle. Unlike politicians, our Conservative judges believe in conservative principle and they will uphold this law.
The sad part is, republican politicians probably support this law for the most part. They just needed something to run on.
Hey America, Imagine going to see your Doctor in under 30 minutes for a check up, having a prescription written – then filled next door at the Pharmacy in under 10 minutes for a $10.00 deductible. Crazy huh? I did it afterwork today and made it home in time for the Cafferty File... Oh yeah, I'm Canadian. Time for REAL change? Now's your chance...
I'm too young to remember but were people this upset when a government mandated retirement system (Social Security) and a government mandated health program for seniors (Medicare) came out? And took dollars out of their paychecks to do so? Aren't these the same people that get upset now when the radical right wants to strip the benefits that they have worked and paid for all these years? Of course Congress doesn't have to worry. We are already paying their medical expenses for life. Be it the ACA or a SPS we need something and in 30 years people will wonder what all the fuss was about.
I question why anyone would not want Americans to be able to purchase afordable health care insurance. I have worked with individuals who were working 40 to 50 hours a week and couldn't afford health care coverage due to their health. I have to purchase home, wind and hail, flood, and auto insurance. Why not health insurance, if it is affordable? It is a caring and committed President of the US to take a stand for individual health care coverage, in my opinion. Shame on any US citizen who will allow their fellow citizens to die because they can't afford to buy medicine or have care. Are we going ro pass individuals suffering and not help? No. We will still allow emergency room treatment and we will still pay for their care. Healthcare should be a right for all.
You gave erroneous information when you stated the majority opposed Obma Care – the majority favor the individual components of the Affordable Care Act – which is Obama Care. They favor that insurance companies are required to pay 80% of premiums on health care, they favor the elimination of lifetime caps and pre-exisiting condition rules. they favor the decrease in prescription cost for seniors. They favor non-gender biased rates. They favor young adults being covered by parents policieis until age 26.T hey favor the contrceptive postion which is already law in 28 states, 8 of which do not offer exemtions for churches. Please correct your statement that the majority of americans do not favor Obma Care
Jack, We as a nation must decide how to manage health care. All the industrialized nations, including the U.S., have decided to care for its people in some capacity. Other nations have the "you die if you don't have the money" model. Medicare by itself is 30 percent of the federal budget and is not sustainable. My fear is that the U.S will be forced into, or worse voluntarily choose to go to, the "other nations" category. It would set our nation back 100 years if this comes to fruition. We have the resources and collective intelligence to do better. The question is " Do we have the will"?
In a normal world Obamacare would be implemented as written. Then, over time, a rational and responsible congress would pass amendments to fix weaknesses that were forrced into the bill by the right wing. But we live in the world of the Tea Party, talk radio, Fox News and the Bush Court. Given all the misinformation and distortions that are broadcast daily I'm surprised that the disapproval rate isn't 100%. People who understand the law approve of it but they are definitely a minority. Finally, with the Cheshire Cat (Roberts) and the Mad Hatter (Alito) leading the charge I'm certain The Court will overturn all or part of it. Once again we will become the only developed country on earth without a rational health care system.
For 44 years I have been treat at the VA (This is socialist medicine provide by the government to veterans) at first it suck but through the years it has improve, I also have medicare( another socialist medicine) for me and my wife. The republicans have made a big thing about Obama care of course they are all very rich and can afford high payments, with high deductible. The only reason the GOP have convince some people that it unconstitutional because a back president got it through congress and made law wake up America the GOP dose care about the meddle or the poor class.
If they kill it, we go back to a broken healthcare system where the uninsureds get free healthcare at my expense. I don't understand why the Republicans find that to be an attractive alternative. Why not make improvements in the law and focus on reducing the cost of care? Going back to square one is bad for everyone except those running against Obama for the presidency.
50% of Americans disapprove of the health care law. Oh really? Why not conduct a survey asking Americans if they even know what the law does. I guarantee no more than 5% can say one coherent thing about it. As for the future of the law, it doesn't look good, considering the conservative nature of the Court right now. Regardless, the US system of private healthcare is grossly inefficient and delivers mediocre care compared to other developed nations. We need either a single payer system or government administration. Healthcare is not a commodity that can be left to market regulation, nor should insurance companies be able to decide who lives or dies. Republicans are afraid of a panel of doctors deciding who gets treatment? Well right now, the people who decide who gets treatment are the shareholders of the insurance companies. Of course, most Republicans don't even know what shareholders are, which brings me back to my first point... Maybe if the education budget hadn't been slashed by Republicans over the past 30 years we would have people who were smart enough to recognize when a piece of legislation is unequivocally in their best interest.
It's a good question how they can make you buy insurance from a corporation. Capitalism/democracy gone wrong. But that's all they could get and the health care part is a step in the right direction. As far as the end user, it doesn't matter if you pay in taxes or in insurance premiums, you're gonna pay somehow. It's the costs that've gone haywire. Since I hate insurance companies who make mega millions off fear, I'd rather give my money to the gov't that is non-profit. Inefficient, yes in some respects but that can be improved. For all those reasons I hope the Supreme Court shuts it down and they come up with real health care – an extension of Medicare and Medicaid for all.
I think the future of healthcare will be struck down due to the fact that the nation was divided over it to begin with. If any solution is possible you must come up with a plan that both sides can compromise with. Im a republican and I like the idea of healthcare for everyone, but if nobody agrees over the current plan then a new one is needed and both parties should be included not just one group.
Two possible outcomes. 1) If the Affordable Care Act has no future, then America has no future. Affordable healthcare is essential to our survival. Unfortunately the issue has become a political hot potato, while millions of American's are dying. Help me understand why my healthcare premium is $150 a month. I havent seen a doctor in years. Oh yeah, my premium is high because I am exhorbing the costs of the uninsured. Are we a nation that lacks the mental capacity to think? 2) If the Affordable Care Act is repealed, then expect more premium increases and a deficit that will lead to perpetual bankruptcy and perhaps the American dollar as the global currency. In conclusion, all of the material assets we own will be worthless and there may be another shot heard around the world.
Georgia
Healthcare??? Former V.P. Dick Chaney has a new heart paid for by the citizens of USA. What percentage of Americans have the best health care – those who are public employees, e.g., teachers, fire fighters, police, city/county/federal employees, all belonging to unions. Congress, the Judicial Branch, and the Executive Branch have their own guaranteed health insurance. If their health insurance is paid by us and seen as a right-of-employment, please don't take away what little health insurance will benefit all our citizens.
A large portion of the public does not know what has been implemented by the Act and what will be implemented over the next two years. The media could help by explaining the time line for full implementation. I would like to think this Nation values the health, and life of all of its people equally. Sadly this is constantly proven to be not true. Do you think Cheney waited in line for his heart like every other American?
We will come closer to serving the health needs of every citizen if the Act is passed. "The Sky is Falling" tactic of the GOP has worked to some degree in scaring some of the public about the Act but the alternative is even more rapidly rising costs, more citizens without insurance, and more people without money either suffering from lack of care or dying because they do not have the insurance or the money for services.
Since I am a lucky recipient of national health care for seniors, aka, Medicare, I can only say this is a great program and we seniors are very fortunate to have it. Why this is not acceptable to people is a mystery I do not understand. Taxing people a fair amout to get coverage they will undoubtedly use in their lives, is the general principle of insurance. The affordable health care program will be just that..........an affordable, comprehensive, insurance policy for all Americans. What is not to like?
Why are the republican total against something they were for. Why fight so hard to get rid of it , why can't they all work together to make adjustments. Yea I know I must be dreaming , sorry. Why is Obama the only President that has to jump through hoops ?
end obama's failed presidency then repeal his ridiculous healthcare bill.....
The current U.S. Supreme Court has already shown itself to be in blind pursuit of objectivity without mercy or humanity.
It really doesn't matter because your whole healthcare system is based on insurance. The insurance company administration costs and profits along with legal costs and insurance for doctors and your "for profit" healthcare system makes it much too costly. Too bad that all of your healthcare costs couldn't be spent on actual healthcare.
Can our government force us under financial penalty to buy something from a private company? I believe that its unconstitutional.....
I am all for universal health care coverage, but personally, I hope this does not pass the muster. I would rather go back and redesign a single payer system, then be stuck with will soon have... a system bought and paid for by the insurance companies.
Obamacare is a cash cow for insurance companies...this supreme court will do nothing but uphold this corporate money grab.
I truly do believe that, in many things political and profound, the Now Generation is a victim of its own making. We want (or expect) an Economic Meltdown 15-20 years in the making to be wiped clean in three years or - "throw the bum out." Likewise, we expect the most sweeping and dramatic change in medical coverage (one requiring 4 to 6 years to "roll out") to be beneficial Now! Some of the most beneficial aspects if Obamacare do not take effect for two more years. But rather than adopting the Long View, or even appreciating the changes that have already taken place, we are calling for Obamacare's complete dismantling.
This is consistent with the near Crowd Hysteria over the Martin shooting in Florida. Instead of letting the judicial system play out, instead the mobs are ready to linch Zimmerman.
I wish Americans who cool down and approach major Life issues with the calmness of our grandparents. Of course that is hard to do when all of the Republican candidates are fanning flames of hatred, fear, paranoia, and apocolyptic predictions.
Murray from Rochester Hills, Michigan
I find it unbelievable that there are people that are willing to let insurance companies rob them blind and deny people with preexisting conditions. Don't people realize that anyone without insurance runs up the cost for everyone else? Either everyone has insurance or we continue to get screwed by the insurance companies. The brainwashing that the GOP/Tea Party has done to the gullible out there is remarkable and sad considering the consequences of not having the Health Insurance Law.
health care insurance and a host of other issues are best handled at the state level and so I support Mitt Romney's approach if he gets elected – he will not repeal Obamacare outright, but he will give individual states the right to opt out of the federal provisions and instead implement their own. This seems like such a much more focused and fair approach as all states' needs and circumstances are different. And besides the federal government is broke – our elected leders just do not have the courage to admit it -so they keep digging the debt hole – much like Greece did.
If the Supreme Court rules that making people buy health insurance is unconstitutional, I guess the government will have no choice but to provide health insurance for everyone, for free. Single-payer, here we come.
Jack, you have to ask what the future of health care without Obama's Health Care – for sure, uncontrollable insurance premium increase, over 50 millions Americans will be without insurance, denied insurance coverage... just victory for the Insurance industry.
How Supreme Court will vote – like always along the party's lines.
To those with common sense, Obamacare is the way into the future but to with profit-motivated ambitions, Obama care means little. It makes more sense for taxpayers to pay for commonsense preventive care than to be mandated to pay for expensive emergency room care. Take your pick.
Literally the determination of this is the difference between life and death for some of us who don't have healthcare through and employer, or cannot afford a private plan. I don't think a lot of people realize they are only one illness or accident from a medical bankruptcy if they were to be laid off and lose their health insurance. Fareed Z. did a great program on why the nation's health plan has to include EVERYONE in order for the system to work. This is much bigger than just the question of its constitutionality. The real question is do we, the citizens of the US believe that all are entitled to health care? I thought we had answered that a long time ago, when Medicare was enacted. But apparently your health will be for sale to the highest bidder, just hope you can afford to bid on when/if the time comes.
As far as the Supreme Courts determination, they told us corporations are people, I think that says it all. They will rule all of it unconstitutional.
The government can make you wear a seat belt, buy car insurance, and pay taxes for schools you may never graduate from, libraries you may never use, or roads you may never drive. You will need health care at some point. I want all the GOP candidates against the insurance mandate (particularly Newt and Mittens since they were all for it before it became "Obamacare") to say their proposal is "If you get sick and you don't have insurance, the hospital can let you die or not even let you in". That's what their choice ultimately has to be because if they aren't monstrous enough to say that, then their objection makes no sense. What is backrupting health care is the guy who can't afford a checkup waiting until he is critically ill and then going to the emergency room. A $50 problem easily turns into a $100,000 problem or more (particularly if he is so sick he can't work and has to go on disability). That's the simple economic truth. So stand up and "Let them die!" or get behind the insurance mandate because otherwise you're just lying to yourself and everyone else about your position.
My brother, David, suffered from severe bi-polar disorder and depression. He was unable to work and, as a result, had no health insurance. For years, he begged for help from almost every psychiatrist and community health center in Oklahoma City. Not surprisingly, he was turned away each and every time because he had no money or insurance. On November 4, 1997, he finally stuck an AK47 in his mouth and pulled the trigger. I tell people that you can't really appreciate the value of health care until you’ve cleaned brain matter off the wall with a sponge and picked up teeth and skull fragments off the floor. Interestingly enough, the right to own a gun and to subsequently blow your brains out is guaranteed in the constitution. The right to health care and to stay alive is not.
The insurance companies' and their shillsl lies have been strident. When Americans are polled on the results/benefits of the Affordable Health Care law, they overwhelmingly approve. Some examples: parents can keep their 20-something children on their policy, seniors have saved money on prescriptions, infants (and within the next 2 years everyone) will be covered, and can't be dropped, for pre-existing conditions. These are just a few of the benefits. So, does the SCOTUS really dislike babies, seniors, and Americans with health issues ... maybe they just want to do what the GOP and the insurance corporations want.
By the way, an important question not asked here is "why is Clarence Thomas, whose wife runs and is paid big money by insurance companies, allowed to rule on this issue?" This is the ultimate conflict of interest.
An ouce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - our health care focus and costs are upside down becasue we continue to treat symptoms and disease – and not promote good health and prevention
I fear that the conservative Supreme Court will emasculate the Affordable Care Act to the point of uselessness. While the rest of the industrialized world figures out how to manage a all-encompassing health care system, we plod ceaselessly along, marching to the tune of private enterprise. The US is doomed.
I say take away the supreme courts lucrative health insurance and make them pay the current going rate for health care , if they can even get it , and see what influence that would have on their decision making.
Jack , What I can't beleive is how many people in this country are so unimformed or missed imformed about the so called Obama care . This is a Health care Insurrance reform law. People want to talk about the individual mandate. Do people know who pays for the ones that don't have Insurrance now , we all do . I for one like being able to keep my unmarried children on my Insurrance until they turn 26 . I also the fact that this law eliminates 500,000,000 $ a year in medicare fraud . I would like for just one person who claims to dislike Obama care to explain what it is most of them don't even know what it is . Just wait if the conservitives get thier way we wont have Socal security in afew years . This guys are all working for the one % . This stuff all makes me sick . J Q Public will buy anything if they here it enough . Wise up America learrn the facts . Then make up your minds , stop buying the brainwash .
Yes the supreme court will do what it does best, side with politicians of their own party. We have activists who vote their party not to enforce good laws. Remember 2012 is not different from 2000! Pregnant women will go back to "pre-condition". Being women is pre-condition. Insurances will drop people as they whish, young students age up to 26 will be dropped out of their parent insurances, insurances will deny coverage to so-called pre-condition patients.... VIVA REPUBLICAN'T and their SUPREME CAN'T. Some of them have been influenced by their wives to throw the health care act. I never seen a country where abortion is a big issue but once born, the band tells you to be on your own. This is not about covering people with "No job". This is a right to health. Women should see the prelude of what is going to happen to them from the men who never been pregnant but want to regulate pregnancies, ...
Why it is mandatory to have car insurance in Virginia?
Jack, if you read the poll and the statistics carefully, you'll understand what the numbers really say:
We're schizophrenic and don't know what we want or which little voices to listen to.
Jack, Our healthcare system is and have been broken for years. The "Affordable Care Act", you keep referring to as "Obamacare" Is the only attempt to fix the rising costs in this country that either party has passed in years. Everyone should support this. As for the mandate for everyone to to pay for healthcare I have one question for you. If you own and drive a car are you not forced to buy insurance?
It is too bad that all Americans couldn't watch CNN, in particular Fareed Zakaria's hour long report on healthcare in a number of countries around the world and the United States.
The report shows that the United States ranks between 35th and 40th in healthcare, compared to other developed countries. United States has by far the most expensive.
If the healthcare bill, that was finally passed by Congress and signed by the President, had not been passed, healthcare in the United States would only be available to the very rich. As it was there was no healthcare coverage for about 50 million people.
It is difficult for this senior Canadian to understand a legal system where the truth isn't the law, it is determined by whether the Supreme Court is mainly conservative judges or non conservative judges. The truth should be the truth.