US Supreme Court says ObamaCare is constitutional as a tax

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The United States Supreme Court ruled Thursday, in a 5 to 4 decision, to uphold the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare. The ruling upholds the provision known as the “individual mandate” that forces people to buy health insurance or face stiff penalties is constitutional as a tax.

According to the White House, the Supreme Court’s decision ensures hard-working, middle class families will get the security they deserve and protects every American from the worst insurance company abuses. While this may be the upside and may be true, there are others who say there is a downside including that it will interfere with the doctor/patient relationship, cause health insurance premiums to skyrocket, increase the national debt and ration care for seniors.

SC Congressman Jeff Duncan, a stong opponent of ObamaCare, said he was disappointed by the court’s ruling.

“ObamaCare interferes with the doctor/patient relationship, causes health insurance premiums to skyrocket, increases our national debt, rations care for seniors, and is a major abuse of federal power,” said Duncan. “While I’m disappointed in the court’s decision, this only strengthens my resolve to push for complete repeal in the United States Congress.”

Many on a more local level agree with the Supreme Court’s decision. Health care provider AnMed Health released a statement on the decision.

“The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act is encouraging news for the thousands of Upstate residents who were considered “uninsurable” and the many workers who feared losing their health insurance when they needed it most,” the statement reads. “The law is not perfect, and we fully expect the health care debate to continue in the months leading up to the presidential election. No matter what happens in Washington, AnMed Health is committed to continuing to do our part to reform the health care delivery system. As we have for many years, we will continue looking for new ways to provide better, more efficient health care in the Upstate and northeast Georgia.”

The White House says the ruling is good for the middle class. According to a press release issued by Nancy-Ann DeParle, Assistant to the President and White House Deputy Chief of Staff, the following are positives of the signature health care act of President Obama and the Democrats:

The Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) insures that insurance companies no longer have unchecked power to cancel a policy, deny coverage, or charge women more than men.

No American will ever again be denied care or charged more due to a pre-existing condition, like cancer or even asthma.

Preventive care will still be covered free of charge by insurance companies—including mammograms for women and wellness visits for seniors.

The release states that by August, millions of Americans will receive a rebate because their insurance company spent too much of their premium on administrative costs or CEO bonuses.

5.3 million seniors will continue to save $600 a year on their prescription drugs.

Efforts to strengthen and protect Medicare by cracking down on waste, fraud, and abuse will remain in place.

Also 6.6 million young adults will still be able to stay on their family’s plan until they’re 26.

The statement says that under the ruling, having health insurance is and will continue to be a choice. If you can’t afford insurance or you’re a small business that wants to provide affordable insurance to your employees, you’ll get tax credits that make coverage affordable.

But if you can afford insurance and you choose not to purchase it, the taxpayers will no longer subsidize your care for free.

“Given today’s ruling, it’s now time to focus on implementing this law in a smart and non-bureaucratic way that works for the middle class,” DeParle said. “The President refuses to go back to the way things were.”

Congressman Duncan, who represents the 3rd Congressional District of South Carolina including portions of Anderson, Greenwood, Laurens and other counties, says the law’s broken and beyond repair.

“There’s no way to fix a law this bad,” said Duncan. “We’re going to have to continue to push for a complete repeal, and once ObamaCare is completely off the books we can start working for ways to reform the system that gets government out of the way and puts patients first. I’ve never counted on the court to rule one way or another. Congress has been working from day one to repeal and replace this obtrusive law.”

“The next step towards repealing ObamaCare begins with making Barack Obama a one-term President,”Duncan said. “There’s no way we can repeal ObamaCare and enact the types of common sense health care reforms Americans deserve as long as he’s in the White House. Ultimately, the next battle in the fight to repeal ObamaCare will be fought by the American people at the ballot box in November.”