Supreme Court Ruling on Health Care

[Havard]

What an astute observation…you can’t guarantee decisions by cherry-picking justices or pouring money into political campaigns of candidates who promise such cherry-picking. The most we have control over, is what we believe and what we do.

That being said, let me congratulate the uninsured of America on the day their cry was heard…

I don’t know about other uninsured folks, but my cry was about the cost being so high, which is mainly due to 1) insurance company proctectionism and 2) legal (tort) costs… neither of which were touched by this massive reform.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

I don’t know about other uninsured folks, but my cry was about the cost being so high, which is mainly due to 1) insurance company proctectionism and 2) legal (tort) costs… neither of which were touched by this massive reform.

Exactly.

 

[thyrodandstaff]

Where is the mention by SCOTUS of the religious freedom First amendment issue in regards to the part of the individual mandate that requires premium payments for everyone for coverage of the things that are morally objectionable to Catholics? Was it in part of the decision? CNN didn’t mention it. I am assuming that SCOTUS found that it didn’t violate the First Amendment or part of the mandate would have been found unconstitutional. Did I understand this issue correctly?

 

[catholicanne]

That being said, let me congratulate the uninsured of America on the day their cry was heard…

My husband and I are uninsured and we sure as heck didn’t want this bill to pass. It’s cheaper to pay the $150 a pop for a doctor visit twice a year than it is to buy insurance.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The Supreme Court has already ruled it is a TAX. I don’t care what some “nonpartisian” fact checker says. It’s a tax. Period.

And not all those who wind up TAXED are going to be people who CHOSE not to buy health insurance but still couldn’t afford to buy it due to debt and financial obligations that they already have.

It is a tax. And it is unjust.

The “fine” is not the only “tax” in Obamacare. As Obama adds mandates and exempts more people from deductibles, the cost will be shifted to those who do not get the mandates and exemptions, and will pay additionally, through their insurance premiums, for them.

So far, as i understand it, the Obama tax (exclusive of the “fine”) is $1300 per person due to increased premiums. That’s for the people and/or their employers who are not subsidized in some manner.

So it’s a bigger tax than it appears to be. Obama talks a lot about taxing “the rich”, but the heavy end of this one will fall principally on those who are in the middle and upper parts of the middle class.

 

[Dawnia]

Where is the mention by SCOTUS of the religious freedom First amendment issue in regards to the part of the individual mandate that requires premium payments for everyone for coverage of the things that are morally objectionable to Catholics? Was it in part of the decision? CNN didn’t mention it. I am assuming that SCOTUS found that it didn’t violate the First Amendment or part of the mandate would have been found unconstitutional.

Only the individual mandate/tax/penalty and the medicaid expansion provisions were part of this decision.

 

[Joe_5859]

Where is the mention by SCOTUS of the religious freedom First amendment issue in regards to the part of the individual mandate that requires premium payments for everyone for coverage of the things that are morally objectionable to Catholics? Was it in part of the decision? CNN didn’t mention it. I am assuming that SCOTUS found that it didn’t violate the First Amendment or part of the mandate would have been found unconstitutional.

That has absolutely nothing to do with the current case. It’s a separate issue with this same bill. I’m sure that case will make it to the Supreme Court eventually, but it’s still a while before that happens.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Romney over $1 million since the announcement of the decision.

 

[seekerz]

My husband and I are uninsured and we sure as heck didn’t want this bill to pass. It’s cheaper to pay the $150 a pop for a doctor visit twice a year than it is to buy insurance.

Guess you two are very healthy then: no tests, no xrays, no surgical procedures and no hospital stays. In the world where I live, even ‘routine’ tests take a sizable chunk of change out of the pockets of uninsured people of average wealth.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

Guess you two are very healthy then: no tests, no xrays, no surgical procedures and no hospital stays. In the world where I live, even ‘routine’ tests take a sizable chunk of change out of the pockets of uninsured people of average wealth.

Many of those tests are unnecessary, cover your bottom tests to protect them from tort lawyer.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Whatever. I’m one of those uninsured. This decision now means not only will I not have insurance, I won’t have food either.

i also am uninsured. if i can’t afford insurance now, how i am i going to be able to pay for it under obamacare or how will i be able to afford the tax i will have to pay if i don’t have insurance. not sure what the benefit is supposed to be with obamacare.
i broke my ankle last year and was able to get on the state health program for 5 months.
i have not had insurance since last august and have been employed for 3 months, but will not be able to affford insurance because i am not making enough. i am already living with my son and daughter-in-law. i think obamacare will make me poorer - not sure it wiill make me healthier.

 

[clem456]

The largest contributor of cost to the health care system is overuse, due to the lack of indiviual accountability. Too much health care is paid for by someone else, whether you believe you earn the benefit or not.

Indiviuals who belong to large groups should be given the money directly by the employer (or government, whichever the case may be), and forced to buy the insurance of their liking, and make decisions about things. You would see this farce stop very quickly.

 

[gnjsdad]

Cardinal Dolan has to be losing his mind right now.

Cardinal Dolan, and the other Bishops, are being taken to a place where they do not want to go.

For years, the Bishops have been wedded to the American Proposition (originally put forth by the Jesuit John Courtney Murray) - the notion that fundamental American ideals are in lockstep with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Hence the Bishops’ (flawed, IMO) strategy of challenging the healthcare mandate on religious liberty grounds.

The American Bishops are beginning to understand now, that Americanism (with its concepts of individual liberty) and Catholicism are not compatible.

America needs conversion, not religious liberty!

 

[catholicanne]

Guess you two are very healthy then: no tests, no xrays, no surgical procedures and no hospital stays. In the world where I live, even ‘routine’ tests take a sizable chunk of change out of the pockets of uninsured people of average wealth.

Yes, we are healthy. I’m not against having insurance, I’m just against having to pay $600 a month for it.

 

[wynnejj]

The Supreme Court has basically set the precedent that Congress has the right to tax without limitation and force commerce considered to be best for the general welfare, regardless of the fact that it would violate the religious conscience rights of large constituencies of Americans.

 

[seekerz]

Many of those tests are unnecessary, cover your bottom tests to protect them from tort lawyer.

I agree. That does not mean there are not thousands of people who trustingly carry out their doctors’ orders. And of course there ARE the times when surgery and hospitalization DO become necessary - say when your appendix forgets that you’re uninsured and dares to get infected…

BTW, you do know that tort reform has not yet been shown to lower costs (in Texas, at least)?

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

What an astute observation…you can’t guarantee decisions by cherry-picking justices or pouring money into political campaigns of candidates who promise such cherry-picking. The most we have control over, is what we believe and what we do.

That being said, let me congratulate the uninsured of America on the day their cry was heard…

Let me mourn the death of America as a free republic.

However, John Roberts may have tossed the Republicans a bone. All they have to do now is win majority control of the Senate in November and they can repeal Obamacare by reconcilliation without needing Presidential signature. By declaring Obamacare a tax, he made Obama a liar of the first order AND gave the mechanism to repeal this horrific law in the same way it was passed, by a trick of Senate procedure.

 

[Luigi_Daniele]

I agree. That does not mean there are not thousands of people who trustingly carry out their doctors’ orders. And of course there ARE the times when surgery and hospitalization DO become necessary - say when your appendix forgets that you’re uninsured and dares to get infected…

BTW, you do know that tort reform has not yet been shown to lower costs (in Texas, at least)?

I read that. Statistical aberration

 

[TheTrueCentrist]

My husband makes $26,000 a year and he’s the sole breadwinner. It’s just the two of us right now and we’re barely keeping our head above water. We’re going to have to buy health insurance because he makes a few grand above the cut-off.

Today sucks. I pray that America wakes up and elects conservatives this November so this travesty of a law can be repealed.

That would suck if it were the whole story. As it stands the federal poverty level is $15,130/year for a family of 2. Subsidies will be available for people making up to 4x the FPL, or 60 520/year for a family of 2. Your income is ~175% of the FPL so your out of pocket expense is capped at about 4% of your income. In other words, you will have to buy health insurance, but it will be heavily subsidized, the most you would have to pay is $1,040/year.

How much do you currently spend on health? A single trip to the doctor for anything more serious than strep throat could cost that much. Insurance would easily pay for itself if you needed something as minor as stitches or a cast for a broken bone. Moreover, with health insurance you will have free access to some preventative care and health screenings (because the very same law requires this.)

 

[seekerz]

Yes, we are healthy. I’m not against having insurance, I’m just against having to pay $600 a month for it.

Oh I’m against that too. I’m more against having to pay the price of a brand new house (that I can’t afford) if I happen to get a serious health condition and have no insurance, while the insured getting the same care as me only pay the price of a car…