Supreme Court Upholds Individual Mandate Portion of Health Care Law
By: Michael C. Fehn
Updated: June 28, 2012
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The individual mandate survives.
The Supreme Court has upheld the heart of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul -- ruling in favor of the requirement that most Americans can be required to have health insurance, or else pay a penalty.
The decision means the historic overhaul will continue to take effect over the next several years, affecting the way countless Americans receive and pay for their personal medical care.
The ruling also hands President Barack Obama a campaign-season victory.
The court found problems with the law's expansion of Medicaid. But even there, it said the expansion could proceed as long as the federal government does not threaten to withhold the entire Medicaid allotment to states if they don't take part in the extension.
The court's four liberal justices, Stephen Bryer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, joined Roberts in the outcome.
Both President Obama, and Republican Presidential Candidate, Mitt Romney, are expected to make remarks on the court's decision soon. For continuing coverage from ABC, click here.
The Supreme Court has upheld the heart of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul -- ruling in favor of the requirement that most Americans can be required to have health insurance, or else pay a penalty.
The decision means the historic overhaul will continue to take effect over the next several years, affecting the way countless Americans receive and pay for their personal medical care.
The ruling also hands President Barack Obama a campaign-season victory.
The court found problems with the law's expansion of Medicaid. But even there, it said the expansion could proceed as long as the federal government does not threaten to withhold the entire Medicaid allotment to states if they don't take part in the extension.
The court's four liberal justices, Stephen Bryer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, joined Roberts in the outcome.
Both President Obama, and Republican Presidential Candidate, Mitt Romney, are expected to make remarks on the court's decision soon. For continuing coverage from ABC, click here.
Comments
I retract my last statement about you Jay W. and apologize. Maybe I need to read and understand what you typed instead of jumping the gun. I agree with you on everything else.
Rob J.
June 28, 2012 at 1:39 pm
I hope if I ever run into you (accident wise) that you are ready to loose everything you own if me or a member of my family is hurt. I will sue you for all your worth even if it means I only get 10$ out of it. Morons like you (the car insurance part) are what makes it hard for people like me that follow the law to AFFORD insurance. I love the health care law, I just don't like the mandate. But we cant change everything. If this [censored] Romney gets voted into office. I hope those of you that work for a living are ready to watch your jobs go elsewhere.
Rob J.
June 28, 2012 at 1:37 pm
I can seemosy people are wrong when they say we have to have insuranse before we can drive our car,,I hace no insurance on ny car ,or ny self,so it not manatory,,But the goverment does make us buy libality on the other persons car and his hospital bills if we wreck him ,We shoulpd have to pay if we are at fault ,,only
JAY W.
June 28, 2012 at 12:11 pm
Folks tis is a hugh step into cpmmunism,The goverment can now telll you whem to e4at and go to the bath room ,if they want to ,That supreem court is against what americans want
JAY W.
June 28, 2012 at 10:10 am
