Who knew? The Supreme Court upheld ObamaCare.
I know there are them those who frequent this blog who oppose the health care on moral and/or political grounds, and that is a position that I take very seriously. However, I am in favor of universal coverage morally and politically. Moreover, as I indicated, this law significantly opens up my husband’s and my future job opportunities.
I am very, very happy today.
Congratulations! Even if I haven’t been a supporter of the ACA since its passage, I would be happy for you.
I can’t help, however, but feel ambivalent about how close a call it was.
Edit: “Even if I hadn’t been….” [counter factual….darn that subjunctive!]
🙂
Wow. I had this happening at maybe 30% likely, but I never, ever would have guessed that it was Roberts and not Kennedy making it 5-4.
Ditto. I thought the Court would strike down the mandate, *maybe* leave in place the other provisions, and *definitely* uphold the medicaid requirement. I was wrong on two of those three counts, and not the two I had expected.
As for who voted for what…..I would not not have foreseen that. In retrospect, however, it seems that if one of the “conservative” justices would vote for the law, it would most likely be Roberts (and second most likely be Scalia, in my almost completely uninformed opinion).
I thought the Court would strike down the mandate, *maybe* leave in place the other provisions
As little as I think of the Court, I would have been shocked if they’d done something so grossly irresponsible.
I saw an excerpt from Robert’s opinion that was basically ‘whether or not this is good policy is for Congress alone’. I would not have any faith whatsoever on the S.C. feeling compelled to not make what they thought was the right legal decision just because the result makes a mess of current law.
I’m quite certain that the fact that that mandate was instituted with only a tax penalty as an enforcement mechanism is the entirety of the bulwark against exactly this decision having been handed down.
When does the law officially start doing things that make your life better? (Also a good question for Russell.)
My take on the law would be that it would add friction for Health Care Practitioners without adding much additional value. Is this not the case?
Makes my life better.
How much have you read about Accountable Care Organizations?
Officially doesn’t matter JACK if you work for a company that wants to be ahead of Washington.
Do you have a kid in college under 26? Now. There’s also the pre-existing conditions stuff, the medical-loss ratio stuff…heck, some people already got rebates on that one.
The ban on rejecting kids with pre-existing conditions was already in effect. If states must take Medicaid money, that will reduce the disparity between states. So we where we live won’t be as determinative.
Right now, my kid can qualify for a Katie Beckett waiver. This allows kids who would otherwise be institutionalized to be eligible for Medicaid, regardless of the parents’ income. Even with private insurance, this is a big deal, because stuff like wheelchairs, home modifications, home nursing, and other equipment is often not covered by private insurance, and can cost thousands and thousands of dollars. However, there is often a waiting list to get in. For example, I know in Maryland that only 200 families can be on the program. The Community First Choice program, which goes into effect next year, will definitely be a big deal for us when he was older. I haven’t yet figured out if that will increase funding to Katie Beckett waiver programs. But the bigger Medicaid grants might help that, too.
Yippeee! January 1, 2014 can’t come soon enough. Goodbye pre-existing condition exclusion, hello regular life.
Huzzah!