Pebble Beach, CA Health Care Reform Ruling : Supreme Court Upholds Individual Mandate, Medicare Expansion Tossed Out

In one of the most widely anticipated court rulings, The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a controversial component of President Barack Obama's health care reform.  A sharply divided court today ruled it was legal to require that most Americans get insurance by 2014 or pay a financial penalty.  This has been referred to as the individual mandate.  News service Reuters reported that Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court's majority in the opinion.  "The Affordable Care Act's requirement that certain individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may reasonably be characterized as a tax," wrote the Chief Justice.  He opined that, "Because the Constitution permits such a tax, it is not our role to forbid it, or to pass upon its wisdom or fairness."  The court was divided on the opinion, with a vote of 5-4.  However, in another part of the decision which is a major blow to the White House, a different majority on the court struck down the provision of the law that requires the states to dramatically expand the Medicaid health insurance program for the poor.  Dubbed Medi-Cal in California, the Medicaid program would have been expanded to include an additional 17 mil. people.  I have mixed feelings about many aspects of the Affordable Care Act but I am glad the Supreme Court ruled quickly on the matter so that Americans can focus on the many important issues which will be decided in the upcoming elections.  I am urging all of my clients at Family inHome Caregiving to get out and vote this year, or get an absentee ballot if they are unable to.  There are myriad issues which will impact seniors for decades to come.