E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSBy Maggie Fox
The Supreme Court upheld President Barack Obama’s health reform law on Thursday, with conservative Chief Justice John Roberts making up the surprise swing vote and writing out a road map for making the law work.
It is of course a big victory for the Obama administration. But it’s not the end of the story, not by a long shot. Even if everything goes smoothly, many important provisions don’t go into effect until 2014 and later. And Republicans, from presidential hopeful Mitt Romney through to members of Congress and governors of close to half the states, renewed their promised on Thursday to fight tooth and nail to either repeal the law or at least chip away at it.
"Today's decision makes one thing clear: Congress must act to repeal this misguided law,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said Thursday.
More than half the states have been gambling that the law would be struck down and have done little or nothing to put into effect one of the law’s main provisions – the exchanges, where people are supposed to be able to go online and get enough good information to choose a health insurance policy. They’re scheduled to be up and running by 2014. The Health and Human Services Department says 34 states have taken money to set up exchanges.
And HHS hasn’t finished making all the rules clear for how to put the full law into effect, and doesn’t have all the money and staff it needs to do that work. The November elections will be very important for determining whether Congress helps or hinders this effort.
Plenty of provisions look set to move ahead. They include changes meant to make doctors provide more effective care. Starting in 2015, doctors will get paid for keeping patients well, not necessarily for every test or procedure. That means, in theory, that a doctor will get paid the same by Medicare or Medicaid whether she gets a patient’s blood pressure down by prescribing drugs or by persuading him to lose weight and exercise.
Accountable Care Organizations will also continue to be created. These new organizations are meant to encourage cooperation by grouping independent care providers such as doctors with hospitals. And the trend toward consolidation is likely to continue no matter what happens with the health reform law – something that, in theory, will make it easier to connect patients with specialists, for instance.
Rules that stop insurers from what the government considers abusive practices also stay in place. “Insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime limits on the amount of care you receive. They can no longer discriminate against children with preexisting conditions,” Obama said in Thursday in response to the ruling. “They can no longer drop your coverage if you get sick. They can no longer jack up your premiums without reason. They are required to provide free preventive care like check-ups and mammograms -- a provision that's already helped 54 million Americans with private insurance,” Obama added.
“And by this August, nearly 13 million of you will receive a rebate from your insurance company because it spent too much on things like administrative costs and CEO bonuses, and not enough on your health care.” The Health and Human Services Department checks insurance plans to make sure they spend at least 80 percent of premiums on direct health care.
Small businesses will still get tax credits to help pay for health insurance for workers and people who retired at age 55 can get special insurance to hold them until they turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare.
Poll: Do you agree with the Supreme Court ruling on health care?
The controversial requirement that insurers and employers pay for all contraceptive care free of charge to women will also stand.
One group has an uncertain future – poor people without children. The Supreme Court ruling struck down the requirement that states expand Medicaid to about 16 million people who make less than 133 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $30,700 for a family of four. Many states currently offer Medicaid mostly to pregnant women and children, but poor adults are often not eligible. The health care law did require states to broaden that and the federal government was going to pay for almost all of it starting in 2014 and would pay more than 90 percent through 2022.
The ruling says states can’t be forced to do this, and now it’s not clear which states might decide not to.
More on health care ruling:
Supreme Court upholds health care law
Thrilled and relieved, sick patients cheer court ruling
Health reform is legal, but is it moral? Bioethicist weighs in
President Obama tells the nation in a televised address that the Supreme Court's ruling on the Affordable Care Act "reaffirmed a fundamental principle" that "no illness or accident should lead to any family's financial ruin."
Leave a Comment:
Yes, lots left to do! Vote Oblamo out and Romney in so he can repeal Obamacare! Yes, LOTS left to do!!
All that happened today was two things:
1. A divided country and a divided country will fall.
2. A division between parents and children. The children will resent the parents for having to foot the parents bill.
In a nutshell, what you are witnessing is a modern day civil war.
The republicans can't overturn Obamacare because they don't control the Senate.
This is one of the saddest days in our history - the Supreme Court has given Congress the ability to control your life, and tax you literally to death.
Congress can't get anything right. The IRS, who will be the strong-arm to enforce the law, couldn't even run a house of prostitution in Nevada they seized.
Vote out the professional politicians, every one who voted for Obamacare MUST GO!
Thats where you are wrong. We can change this bill and amend it over time. We will chip away at it and then put in a new tax code change to exempt Americans from the penalty. Easily done. Legislation is already being drafted.
Want The Truth From Politicians===Give it time November is no that far away.
The easy way to handle this would be for Romney to get elected and issue an executive order to stop Obamacare so it can be studied more. This will post pone it for 4 to 8 years. More than enough time to get a republican Congress elected to repeal this joke they call Obamacare.
Look at Obama's facial expression. As if to say, "Yeaaaah; I got you, bitc#es".
Yep, "up yours America, you lose".
Let us remember, Justice Roberts upheld Congress's ability to levy health care as a tax. This is a tax, just like Social Security and Medicare, that will benefit the minority at the major expense of the majority. With high unemployment, no economic growth prospects for domestic businesses, a private sector that is not doing fine, and an aging population, where is the tax money for the Affordable Health Care Act going to come from?
I would think the first order of business is for Obama and the Democrats to explain to everyone in this country how this mandate became a TAX!!
The other thing to do is to send Obama back to where ever it is that he came from and repeal him and Obama-Care.
Just remember liberals and Democrats, you asked for this against the American taxpayers, they will remember for a long time.
U.S. will pay for half of all health care costs by 2020 - July 28, 2011
"By 2020, nearly 30 million additional people are expected to have health insurance because of reform.
Over the 10-year period, the report showed that the biggest annual jump in health care spending will happen in 2014 when health reform is fully implemented.
CMS estimates that in 2014 about 23 million uninsured consumers will gain access to health insurance, mainly through government programs such as Medicaid and through the creation of federal and state-funded health insurance exchanges.
As a result, the government expects Medicaid spending to surge 20% in 2014 and private health insurance spending to increase 9.4%.
Norwalk said the estimated sharp surge in Medicaid spending just in one year, is very concerning given that states are already struggling with their budgets.
As millions more gain access to health insurance, the government expects spending on prescription drugs, physician and hospital services to increase as well.
CMS expects prescription drug spending to jump by 10.7% in 2014 and to account for 11% of national health spending by 2020. Spending on physician and clinical services is forecast to rise by 8.9% by 2014, representing 19% of overall health care spending."
http://money.cnn.com/2011/07/28/news/economy/healthcare_spending_forecast/index.htm?source=cnn_bin&hpt=hp_bn3
P.S. Keep in mind these are even the government released numbers, the reality will be much worse.
What about the millions of illegals that clog the emergency rooms to get free medical care. Will they be taxed for not having insurance? Most of them don't pay taxes anyway. The states will still have to foot the bill for them.
Ok so now let's talk about the 16 Trillion dollars in debt and going up every second of every minute every day. And now we have another entitlement with not enough funding.
What happens when the creditors decide they don't want to extend credit anymore to us as a country. Then what healthcare will you have? Just saying...
sham79===That's an easy question Call the White House, Harry Reid and the cheerleader Nancy Pelosi. Maybe after this long week-end they can get together and read the actual law they pushed on us. Might as well give the Supreme Court another copy, or two, they forgot to read the damn thing too.
as if either one of them has the intelligence to understand the law that's been shoved down our throats.they know they don't have to obey that law-makes it easier to scr--w the American working man/woman. The bums will fare quite well.,and the ILLEGAL aliens. Socialism here we come.
Quick ...... look over there ....... change the subject ......... LMAO!!!
What a sham our snake oil salesman President has pulled on the American public. What good is having insurance if you cannot find a doctor?? In the local news tonight they were talking about the growing shortage of primary care physicians, especially since Obamacare was passed into law. Most of those who are currently uninsured and get insurance coverage as a result of this law will not be able to find a primary care physician willing to take them into their practice. They do not have to accept Medicaid patients. And since reimbursement rates for Medicaid are well below regular insurance plans, they are not going to take on additional patients at a loss. As a result, those getting access to Medicaid and other low cost insurance will end up in the Emergency Room for treatment, same as without insurance. The difference is that the hospital will now get paid something instead of nothing - big win for hospitals. Pharma companies will get more money from the drugs prescribed to these patients, so they benefit. But those folks with the new insurance will still sit for hours waiting in long lines in the Emergency Room lounge. And of course, the rest of us will be paying for that insurance.
Peter17==I don't like to say this but Obama is a minority President backed by the Democrats, body and soul. This is going to fall into their part of the world after this ruling is read over and over again to see who pays for what and when.
We have millions upon millions of families that have lost everything and you cannot eat health insurance. We needed jobs and they looked the other way. Here we are 3 1/2 years later the millions upon million of families are still left in the dark and obama-care will not help them very much. It helps only when you get sick. Other than that find food and shelter wherever you can.
Peter17
What the democrats haven't realized yet is that Obamacare is about buying an insurance policy nothing else.
A few months ago it was reported that way more students are seeking careers as lawyers as opposed to becoming doctors.
There are going to be a lot of Americans who are in for a big surprise .Obamacare isn't what they think it is.
TiredVoter-951582===Yeah I know what you mean. Ridiculous isn't it?
Just another step toward socialism on our way to communism. Happy trails !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And here comes the underground economy! Happy Trails!
I'm glad we will be following in the footsteps of all those more solvent governments in Europe like Greece who are providing everything everyone ever wanted for free????? we can get it by making all the wealthy people sell everything to pay for it!!!! the 1% greedy people need to pay more!!! if the 1% sold off everything they have we could pay off about 50% of all the money the government has spent but couldn't afford wow our debt would only be 8 trillion!!!! wait a minute if they sell everything who will it belong to??? where would the tax money come from that is being promised to give me more free stuff, oh they can just borrow more from the people who own all the rich peoples stuff,that's the plan i like it when a plan comes together!!!!
Great.
What we'll end up with is a redesigned car with 2 1/2 wheels and no brakes that get zero MPG.
This mess needs to be flushed, not re-arranged.
Lots of work? Our whole Gov't needs lots of work! They all suck a##! Think for a minute people are going to pay your fines or penalties? And how many billions are owed to the IRS (Many of this is Federal Employees) and how many billions are owed in your pathetic child support system across the nation? It will be another Government blunder of more BS paper debt you can build up so the media can say there is billions of unpaid money to something new the Gov't has their hands in. Stop this POS Gov't from destroying this country! Vote every one of them out in November. God I feel sorry for our next generations.
Now that it has passed and healthcare is more affordable, does that mean the government is going to have a check in my mail box tomorrow along with my retirement? Actually, it means that my health insurance will go even higher than it already is.
You democrats need to start practicing your oink, oink as when the realities of Obamacare smack you in the face, you're going to be squealing like stuck pigs.
The joke is on you. Obamacare isn't what you think it is, but you're going to find out.
OK, Mr. President and members of the Supreme Court...tell me. We have a little company with 7 employees. Health care in a group plan costs $1200 a month for a family of 3, more for a larger family.
So, what, exactly is the Affordable Health Care Act going to do for me?
Right now, we pay half if one of the 7 employees want to participate...none do. Are we going to have to pay the entire $1200+ for each family? That will put us out of business.
all the people for this is retarted. i owe medical bills for my wifes surgury. and i pay those bills every month.
im almost done paying those bills off and has taken me several years to do so. we have been living on nothing for a long time now and are hardly able to go anywhere except to work and home.but i have always paid my bills on time , so dont go and say that you have to cover my debts for me, cause your an idiot and your not better than me . if there wasnt so much greed in this world. health care would have been affordable in the first place. and you would not have to have someone else do the thinking for you. your a follower and not a leader.
lead buy example buy showing people that you can pay. but it might take sacrifices to do so.not having someone take your money from you.so that you will.thats called a choice! men have died in wars for this right so that you retards could have this to. it was all for nothing.and this country just hit its lowest point in american history.welcome to communisism. you the people. just failed this once great nation.and turn it into trash,like you are.and when it all falls apart.and does not work, and civil war breaks out again.i do truly hope, that your kind. gets taken out first.it happened once before and it will happen again! because the leaders(not the president)will always gaine back what was taken from them, like free speech, and the right to make our own choices. when this country fails its because of you. it saddens me to see such a future. but here it comes.there is no future for this onces great nation.sad sad sad.
It's a tax people and that means that the 52% of those who pay taxes will pay for the healthcare of the 52% and the 48% who don't pay taxes. It's no different than obama telling you that he is helping small business while increasing the tax rate on those earning more than $250k. He's a liar, a thief, and should be impeached!
yes...
No, Obama said there will be no new taxes on those making less that 250K a year. And yes, with this, that is a HUGE lie. This had better affect those from 15K a year to 15M a year. Of course, the 15M a year don't have and will never need insurance. Guess what middle and lower class, your hero just stuck it to you.
All I want is for the Obama family, the politicians as a whole to HAVE to have the same plan as the rest of us. Then let's see how wonderful this passage is. Ain't gonna happen.
Nope, because socialism is for the people, not for the law makers.
The same as the rest of us? Veterinarians take care of Monkeys!
First thing The Federal government can do, is put the entire Federal Government under Obamacare.
If Obamacare was so great, why did the democrat congress exempt exempt congress and the the white house from it? If they are not covered under obamacare then it is discriminatory.
The congress is there own entity.
You'll find that just about all laws adopted do not cover Congress... whether it is GOP or Dem....
They can talk all they want about repealing the law but they will need a 2/3rds majority to get it done it which is imposssible.
nOT SO.
Think again! It didn't take 2/3rds to get it passed. One thing is for certain though, almost 2/3rd of the people in America don't want it. You think they have enough force to make those 2/3rds that don't want it to have it? I will make the wager the people will win.
Just another failed attempt by the GOP to bring another nonsense case to the Supreme court. This is the repercussion of the citizens united decision. The GOP may have lot's of money and they have lot's of groups lobbying them; but, the rich only represent 1% of the population. 1% won't win you elections, GOP! Maybe someday they will wake up and start working for the people; probably not.
What? It was nonsense? Lets see, didn't the vote go 5-4? Obviously 4 Justices didn't agree! There obviously is something wrong with it if it went 5-4 vote! It should have had to be an overall majority! What I just learned from this with the 5-4 vote is obvioulsy one side or the other interprets our Constitution and Laws in a totally different way! That in itself is mighty scary!