For those who want a little more detail:
- All parts of the law were upheld - no parts of the law were ruled unconstitutional.
- The "individual mandate" - although found impermissible in terms of the commerce clause - is still legal as a tax. From Justice Roberts:
In this case, however, it is reasonable to construe what Congress has done as increasing taxes on those who have a certain amount of income, but choose to go without health insurance. Such legislation is within Congress's power to tax.
- The law does not order people to buy health care - the government does not have that power, according to SCOTUS - but it does have the power to tax those without health insurance. This is within legal boundaries.
- From CNN - It also requires individuals to have health insurance, either through their employers or a state-sponsored exchange, or face a fine beginning in 2014.
Some common misconceptions about this law, from Politifact:
1.) An independent payment advisory board created by the health care reform law "can ration care and deny certain Medicare treatments." - Pat BoonePolitifact Rating: Pants On Fire. See the article at
http://www.politifact.com/ohio/statements/2012/mar/19/pat-boone/pat-boone-says-health-care-advisory-board-can-rati/.2.) President Obama’s health care law "represents a government takeover of health care." - Mitt RomneyPolitifact Rating: Pants On Fire. The law is not a takeover of health care by the government, especially since the health care law continues to depend on private health insurance and private-sector physicians. (Politifact)
3.) Those who fail to buy health insurance under "Obamacare" face the threat of jail time. - Bob MarshallPolitifact Rating: Pants on Fire. As stated above, a fine will be instated instead of jail time.
4.) A provision in the health care reform bill for end-of-life counseling for seniors is not "entirely voluntary." - Sarah PalinPolitifact Rating: False. There is nothing in the current law that forces end-of-life counseling. Although there certainly may be pressure to do so from a doctor, the call is entirely up to the patient. (From Politifact)
5.) Up to 20 million people will lose their employee-sponsored health care by 2019. - Chamber of Commerce TV SpotRating: Misleading. The Congressional Budget Office did say this is a possible scenario, but it was under the extreme assumption that employers would have a strongly negative reaction to the cost of obtaining health insurance for their workers. The more realistic scenario is still a loss - but only 3 to 5 million. Another scenario - less likely but still possible - is a gain of employee-sponsored health care - up to 3 million more people.
6.) If the Supreme Court throws out the federal health care law, it "would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress." - Barack ObamaPolitifact Rating: False. The passing of the law was done by anything but a strong majority. "Obamacare" was passed by a narrow margin of 5 votes - 220 to 215.
If anyone had any questions about it, I hope this clears some things up.
