Today, A Sigh of Relief for the Future of Healthcare

I’m an attorney, and I’ve spent virtually my entire career in the realm of healthcare policy. I admit to a bad case of the nerves heading into today. But I am quite thrilled to say the pundits were wrong on this one. Hardly anyone predicted it, but today the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the Affordable Care Act by a 5-4 vote.

The ruling is great news for uninsured Americans and healthcare consumers across the country. While the Affordable Care Act has its supporters and its detractors, there’s widespread agreement that our healthcare system is unsustainable on its current course and changes are needed to reduce healthcare costs and preserve healthcare quality. That work to reform our healthcare system can now continue with the reassurance that the Affordable Care Act will provide the policy foundation to support those efforts moving forward.

Nearly 1 million uninsured New Jerseyans will be added to the insurance rolls over the next two years, thanks to this law. (Although the law will not apply to nearly 400,000 uninsured residents.) Millions more Garden State residents will enjoy protections like access to insurance regardless of pre-existing healthcare conditions and no more lifetime limits on insurance coverage. The law also includes funding, demonstration projects and other innovative efforts to help hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers reinvent healthcare delivery so it is higher in quality and lower in cost. In short, healthcare reform will help us bring value to healthcare. And that’s important for all of us who count on the reassurance that the care we need will always be there.

Written by Betsy Ryan at 17:02

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Amy Bernardon said...
So much that I want to say. How about we just get to the bottom line though. How much is this costing the working class?

Insurance companies are in the profit business so they are not going to take the hit. Government is in the hand out business but that's my money they are using. So yeah, it just looks like one more thing that will lower my net salary.

While I have compassion and can see where relief will come to those who are without, how exactly is this going to drive down costs? How is the working class going to benefit from this? Lower premiums? Less taxes? Less cost of medical treatment? More control for doctors? Less say by insurance carriers?
June 28, 2012 02:44
Trish Smith said...
Upon hearing the Supreme Court's decision yesterday, my first thought was, "it must be nice to have a cushy job like they have that provides wonderful healthcare after they retire and for the rest of their days, on my dime no less. They have way better healthcare plans than I ever will. This decision doesn't impact them." Forcing people to pay a so-called "tax" is an infringement upon our liberties. This decision is a slippery slope to socialism. They have now set a precedent that if the government wants you to eat broccoli, you can be taxed. Europeans have socialized healthcare. But they also have to wait 3 months to see their doctor. I see this happening here in this country since we are now opening this can of worms for universal healthcare. And from what I know of our state and federal governments, they have never been good stewards of my money. So do I trust them to do right with this "tax" and drive costs down? Absolutely not. Instead of taxing people, we should consider tort reform because that is a real issue, particularly in the State of NJ. Doctors are leaving this state to avoid paying the insurance premiums. If people are out of a job, how can we expect them to pay a tax for healthcare? I know that I will end up picking up the tab for that. Not to mention, people with preexisting conditions previously denied healthcare will now be given affordable healthcare, driving up my premiums. You mentioned that 1 million people are out of jobs in NJ and this healthcare would help them. What percentage of those people were hard workers, fell on hard times and need a lending hand and what percentage represents people who simply don't ever want to work or help themselves? That number seems a bit high for people who once held a job or are disabled, therefore, unable to work. I am sorry if I cannot share the same enthusiasm about healthcare being forced upon people and the middle class paying the bill. Quite honestly, I am happy with my healthcare as it is and I see nothing but high costs ahead for me to help everyone else. That's socialism. This fall I will be voting to repeal and replace.
June 29, 2012 09:37

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