Affordable ‘Obamacare’ and you
This Thursday, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling that no one anticipated. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (sometimes referred to as “Obamacare”) constitutionality was upheld by a 5-4 vote with Chief Justice Roberts drafting the majority opinion for the court. Before I discuss what this means for Americans and for college students, I am going to explain exactly what the court said. There were two major questions addressed by the Supreme Court in this ruling, the individual mandate and the expansion of Medicaid programs nationwide.
The individual mandate is the core of the Affordable Care Act, it states that every American citizen must have health insurance by 2014 or face a penalty from the federal government. Chief Justice Roberts ruled the penalty in question to be a tax. This is the key to the individual mandate being ruled constitutional because Congress has the right to levy taxes.
The nationwide Medicaid program expansion was upheld with some restrictions. This part of the Affordable Care Act essentially threatened states with a loss of federal funding if they did not expand eligibility for Medicaid to cover those who could not afford to purchase health insurance. Chief Justice Roberts also wrote the majority opinion for this section within which he stated that Congress may threaten to not offer additional funding to states that do not extend their Medicaid programs, but they do not have the right to take away funding that states are already receiving. The federal government has offered to fund approximately 95 percent of the expansions in every state, so it is likely that almost every state will expand their program, no questions asked anyway.
With this ruling, the United States enters into the same club as nations like Canada, Russia, Brazil, Australia, and almost every European country that already has some sort of universal healthcare system in effect. The individual mandate represents a shining beacon of humane and ethical treatment for everyone in this country.
The Affordable Care Act effectively puts an end to private insurance companies abusing people for their own selfish and greedy gain. Insurance companies must now spend 80 cents of each premium dollar you pay on your insurance. These companies can also no longer cancel coverage when you get sick, they can no longer set lifetime benefit limits that can leave people without coverage when they most need it, and they can no longer deny you coverage because of a pre-existing condition. But that’s not all.
As a college student, it is important for you to know that you can now stay on your parents health insurance plan until the age of 26. This gives you a fighting chance to get a job and be financially stable when the time comes for you to purchase your own health insurance plan. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act covers preventative care which includes a large number of immunizations, screenings for select conditions such as STIs and depression, and it even covers some forms of contraception. All of this is covered without you having to pay a copayment. We are the future of this country and our government wants and needs us to be healthy.
The Affordable Care Act is an excellent start toward reforming our nation’s healthcare system. This law is a victory for the people, the people who this government is actually supposed to work for, and this November I hope that you remember which candidate is on the side of the people. #Obama2012
For more information on the Affordable Care Act and what is means to you visit: whitehouse.gov/healthreform/
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
OBAMACARE IS NOT ONLY AFFORDABLE THERE ARE NO LIFE TIME LIMITS ON BENEFITS PAID OUT. PEOPLE DON’T OPPOSE OBAMACARE. THEY ARE AFRAID OF SOMETHING NEW. I JUST WISH OUR REPUBLICAN FRIENDS WOULD STOP MAKING LIFE SO DIFFICULT AND TRY TO GET ALONG.
In your attempt to convince me this bill is good for me, you did not mention costs at all. For example, how much have premiums increased to cover “children” until 26 years old? That also begs the question, why would anyone remain on their parents policy when insurance is “free” to them? Also, what will it cost everyone when 60-80% of corporations drop coverages for their employees? The $2,000 per employee “penalty” is a joke. Insurance plans run far over that.
You do your best to keep your children healthy, but sickness and accidents are a part of life. Getting health insurance for your children gives you peace of mind knowing they have health coverage when they need it. Search one the web “Penny Health” for kids they are the best.
I imagine that you have not read the Affordable… for as we know our congress persons have not – remember Ms Pelosi’s remark! I know that I have not read it either and thus must rely on “expert analysis” of the legislation.
This I do know: there are no new health care workers created by the law; the IRS has it considerable powers expanded; the congress has exempted itself from this law; Senator Reed exempted the entire state of Nevada from the act; unions, industries and major political special interests have been exempted from the act; the benefits and costs of this act will not go into effect until after the 2012 election – I wonder why?; the Congressional Budget Office has revised the costs upward to almost double the initial estimate .
For these reasons alone I do not think such a large scale package makes for good legislation.
Some of the editorial anger should be directed to the do nothings and perhaps know nothings of both political parties who are running for re-election in 2012 – many of whom in the administrative and legislative branches take contributions from the the healthcare industry. We need new ideas and faces in D.C.
I wonder why the author has chosen to not engage those whose opinions differ from his own. It would seem that a debate as important as this one could be civilly had.
The opportunity for growth in the university paper seems to have been sidestepped, it is properly labelled as an opinion piece but shouldn’t this be a forum for intellectual debate and discussion. It seems to me that the tone of the responses was civil, and there was an opportunity for university level discussion.
Here are 2 points that I consider fairly important that were not made.
The administration has taken 750 Billion from current Medicare recipients in order to fund 1/3 of this new entitlement program. President Obama has said as much in 2009 in an interview.
TAPPER: Are you willing to pledge that whatever cuts in Medicare are being made to fund health insurance, one third of it, that you will veto anything that tries to undo that?
OBAMA: Yes. I actually have said that it is important for us to make sure this thing is deficit neutral, without tricks. I said I wouldn’t sign a bill that didn’t meet that criteria.
Justice Roberts upheld the law and the individual mandate because he viewed non-participation of citizens to be assessed as a penalty tax from the IRS. This Bill uses the commerce clause to sidestep the 10th amendment and infringes on states rights.
This is a very slippery slope no matter your party affiliation. The governement can now use this tax clause to make us do anything they want by imposing a severe enough penalty if the behavior they request is not executed.
By upholding the penalty tax, they have paved the way for future leaders to follow suit.
How would you feel if a future president imposed a penalty tax for having an abortion? It’s not illegal to have an abortion but if you do, you have to pay a penalty tax because you have eliminated a future tax payer. Sounds incredulous doesn’t it? This is the example the current administration has set for us.
As per Urethane’s comment. This is another loophole/backdoor initiative to nationalize/federalize health care. The average insurance plan costs companis between $5000 and $7000 dollars. The penalty for not offering insurance is $2000. Giving companies an incentive to cancel their healthcare plan offerings is merely a way to grasp onto more government control of another industry.
This is where the accusations of socialism are born from. To quote your article Mr. McGee….
“With this ruling, the United States enters into the same club as nations like Canada, Russia, Brazil, Australia, and almost every European country that already has some sort of universal healthcare system in effect. The individual mandate represents a shining beacon of humane and ethical treatment for everyone in this country.”
Look at the state of affairs in Europe right now, this is the path we want to emulate? These policies have not worked out very well for them. Candians and Europeans often come to the United States for Health care because the waiting list to see a doctor in their own countries is just simply too long.
It amazes me that so many college students support this policies so fervently. Your unemployment rates are high, with many having to move back home after graduation, while staying on their parents Helath Insurance until age 26 while the grasp on your lives continues to tighten .
Leave your response!
Year In Review 2012-2013
The Towerlight in Print
Categories
Weather
Archive
Resources
First Class Chauffeured Washington DC Limousine Service
Recent Comments
recent articles
Links
Sections