Supreme Court upholds health care reform

The U.S. Supreme Court this morning upheld the individual mandate provision in President Obama's health care plan. Details to come.

Compiled by staff

Published: Jun 28, 2012

Chief Justice John Roberts announced the court's judgment that allows the law to go forward with its aim of covering more than 30 million uninsured Americans.

The court found problems with the law's expansion of Medicaid, but even there said the expansion could proceed as long as the federal government does not threaten to withhold states' entire Medicaid allotment if they don't take part in the law's extension.

The court's four liberal justices, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, joined Roberts in the outcome.

Justices Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissented.

AFBF Reaction

The following statement was issued this morning by AFBF on this morning's court ruling:

“Farmers, ranchers and rural residents need affordable and accessible health care. We remain concerned that mandating individuals and businesses to buy insurance will impose an expense that creates economic hardship, particularly for self-employed individuals and small businesses.

“We believe one of the primary goals of health care reform should be to reduce costs for participants. The plan reviewed by the Supreme Court would impose a new financial burden on our members. As the legal and political interpretation of this ruling is further analyzed and debated in the weeks and months ahead, it is important to remember that access to affordable health care eludes many American families across the country.

“Farm Bureau has always supported market-based reforms as the best way to control costs and increase options for people and small businesses that purchase insurance for themselves and their employees. Moving forward, we encourage Congress and the President to work together to address our remaining concerns on this issue that affects millions of small business owners and individuals throughout rural America.”

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It's about time everyone be required to contribute to the monatary pool rather than take advantage of free health care through medicaid and emergency rooms. Everyone needs to pay. It's no different than car insurance. Stan , Piatt county
Anonymous on 6/28/2012 12:14:00 PM

The bill had little to do with healthcare,it was written to strip the american people of constitutional rights in the name of healthcare. I am opposed to this legislation,and hope that when the conservatives regain full control of the congress,and executive branch, they will have the fortitude to repeal it.
Anonymous on 6/28/2012 10:28:00 AM

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