The Supreme Court Considers The Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act was the US federal government law authorized by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law was the fundamental healthcare reform legislation from the 111th US Congress. The law mandates men and women who aren't insured by employer-based or government-sponsored insurance policies, purchase a minimum threshold of health care insurance protection or pay a substantial financial penalty (tax) except if excused by spiritual convictions or economic hardship. This requirement is a provision typically called the "individual mandate". The Act additionally changes specific areas of the private medical insurance sector and public medical insurance services. Among these are a requirement for health insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions and allowing people 26 years old or younger to stay on their parents' insurance policy as a dependent.

The bill passed the Democratic-majority Senate on December 24, 2009, by way of a vote of 60-39. The Republicans realizing the economic turmoil this half-baked concept would create unanimously voted against it. The bill narrowly passed the House of Representatives on March 21, 2010, by way of a vote of 219-212. In this chamber of Congress, 34 Democrats had the common sense to vote against it, as did all 178 Republicans.

Most of the states, and various businesses, agencies, organizations and individual people, have submitted legal actions in federal court system confronting the constitutionality of The Affordable Care Act. So far, there have been four appellate courts involved in determining the Constitutionality of the Act. Two appellate courts determined the Act was Constitutional. The third appellate court proclaimed the individual mandate rendered the Act unconstitutional. The fourth appellate court determined the federal Tax Anti-Injunction Act inhibits the matter from discussion, until tax payers start shelling out for the financial penalties beginning in 2015. The Supreme Court has slated six hours for oral arguments during the last week of March (2012). The Supreme Court should rule by the end of June.