Should Everyone Be Required to Have Health Insurance?

Should Everyone Be Required to Have Health Insurance?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204124204577152842650354880.html

The Supreme Court has been presented with a case regarding the Constitutionality of forcing all to have health insurance or pay a fine. The law was passed by Congress in 2010 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but will not be active until 2014, and may not be implemented due to the high level of controversy. Provisions of this act require coverage to be available, affordable, and renewable for all applicants regardless of health and history. While this reform was the basis for Clinton’s campaign, its experiment in Massachusetts has proved to be unsuccessful.

In support of the act, individuals argue that health care will become affordable for all socioeconomic levels, reliable because it will always exist, and accessible for individuals will not be able to be denied to a range of health care levels. Although the burden will be shared by all, this process will work to help families save $2000 a year on premiums, and is a responsibility much like social security. Furthermore, this will eliminate the occurrence of “free riders” who cause hospitals to charge all patients more for services.

In opposition, requiring citizens to purchase a private product such as health insurance violates Constitutional freedom. This act is unpopular as it will raise premiums for those without coverage and those with minimal coverage and will thus simply encourage the healthy to lower coverage, which in turn raises over costs, or to abandon coverage all together in favor of paying the fee and getting insurance only when they become ill. Because the coverage is so expensive, the government may resort to rationing the amount of health care available to each citizen, preventing a free market even more than the current system, which is in reality the only way to make health care affordable.

How do you think the Supreme Court will rule on the act?
Which side do you take on the issue?
Will this act be discussed in the 2012 election?
Does the passing of this act alter your perception of Obama’s accomplishments in office with a Republican Congress?