Yes it should be overturned and I pray that the Supreme Court will do so.

It would be the first time in our nation's history that we're mandated to purchase something.

I've heard a bunch of bad analogies; car insurance. Wrong - not if you don't own a car. Homeowners. Wrong again - rent.

Then argument then is "but I can't choose not to go into the health care system." Correct, but I can choose to either pay for it out of pocket or I risk not getting care. That's my choice to make.

John - doctors are ethically forbidden to not give people care. You'll never hear a doctor say "You can't afford to pay for this procedure? OK, go ahead and die." Furthermore, I've never heard of a person saying "I don't have the money to pay for this procedure out of pocket, so I'm fine with dying."

@Sandy. Incorrect. Walk into any doctor's office of your choice and tell them you need care but don't have insurance or any means to pay. You'll be walking out the door.

Show up at RightTime and tell them you have a sever ear infection, but don't have insurance or their $90 fee. They'll show you the door.

I don't understand why a system that was conceived by Republicans is now the worst thing that could possibly happen in America. Could it be that it was embraced by progressives and therefore is now considered a bad thing? Why not make people who have been letting the rest of us pull their weight, finally have to pay toward their coverage? Sounds like something conservatives should like.

@sandy - the point is it is unconstitutional. We are not a Socialist country! I hope none of you have elderly parents who, God Forbid, have any healthhcare issue. They will be told, 'Well, you are 82, you've had a long productive life'. Hope you yourself have no pre-existing conditions or don't develop a condition because your coverage for any item will be decided upon not by a healthcare professions but by an pencil pushing underwriter. How's this - 'oh sir, we will not be covering you for your diabetes because you are just too fat. Too bad. Go on a diet and then we will talk'. This socialistic approach will not work. Just ask all the people from Canada who died of cancer waiting for treatment.

The results of this poll really makes me sad. No wait, mad...it makes me mad!

The health insurance mandate and the Supreme Court are all the rage in the news. I'm cool with people not paying health insurance, but I'd take the hard core position that you and your family shouldn't receive any emergency care or any of the other care our paying lets you have. If the law is struck down, then it is only fair that this one gets repealed too: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Medical_Treatment_and_Active_Labor_Act

I do believe though that if it gets struck down, then that will put us on a faster path to a single payer system. Eventually the people in this country will realize that paying twice as much per capita than every other normal country for WORSE CARE just isn't going to cut it. YOU UNDERSTAND RIGHT? WORSE CARE! The opponents to it are simply in the insurance companies pockets. VOTE OUT ANYONE WHO DOESN'T WANT HEALTH CARE WITH A SINGLE PAYER SYSTEM! THEY DO NOT GOVERN WITH FACTS!

This is not only an unconstitutional mandate, but robs us of our money and our choices - freedom, if you will - in the area of health care. I cannot imagine having to deal with a government agency for my healthcare decisions.

Mary,
I think Richard is an educated American. It's pretty clear cut that this was not a constitutional move by the administration.

For those honestly looking to learn and debate a very real issue, here is the best write up (from a non-bias point as possible) about the health care law and what it actually does.

http://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/vb8vs/eli5_what_exactly_is_obamacare_and_what_did_it/c530lfx

I WORK in healthcare and am wholly opposed to any solution that doesn't address the actual problems with the current free market system. Obama's legislation doesn't even have items like portability and tort-reform IN the monolithic act. It's an absolute affront to the Constitution as well - if the SCOTUS DOESNT over turn ALL of it we might as well just rip up the Constitution altogether. This poor document has been so abused over the last 40-50 years - it's on life support right now - tomorrow will decide whether we as a nation pull the plug or not...

I'm curious why the Huffington Post is even mentioned in this article too - you do realize that's about as left leaning a source as you could find right? Even if it is just to reference the ruling being decided tomorrow - any more moderate news source could have easily been referenced as well...

All one needs to do is to look at health care in countries such as England and Canada and ask themselves is this what we want in the United States. In England, expectant mothers do not get prenatal care. The mother is told to show up when she is in labor to one of the midwife facilities. Ask the Canadians how they like their "free" care. If the Canadian government deems that you are not a good candidate for surgery, guess where they go if they want to live--the good old USA. . Most of the hospitals in England are at least 50 plus years old. As Americans, we must ask ourselves, do we want to end up like Europe and Canada with their approach to medical care? We can be sure that Obama will not let his family have the health care that he invisions for the masses. I want to know why we cannot have the health care plans made available to Obama and Congress. Is this another Obama, "don't do as I do, do as I say." We had better hope that the Supreme Court is on the side of the law and the things that made this country great. When the court votes this down, it will make Obama look like the biggiest idiot, since he has be touting his vast experience as a constiutuional lawyer. This ruling from the Court will lose Obama the election.

So I'm curious WHO is being left to die in the streets? At my hospital everyone is treated and accepted - no one is turned away. I'm not saying the current system doesn't have need for overhaul - but outright replacement by the Federal Government who cannot manage Medicare/Medicaid NOW (or virtually anything for that matter) properly is insanity. I'm thrilled to see the majority of pollsters here agree it must be overturned. I just wonder where all these people were when the election came around. Or when O'Malley got another 4 years. Is the patch read only by Libertarians like myself???? ;)

Any comparison of this nation to others in the context of the healthcare discussion is wholly invalid - we are not Norway nor are we the UK or Canada. The US has a unique healthcare foundation in place - with a few tweaks like tort and portability for starters it could be even better than it is now. No one finds it ironic that neither of these solutions are even IN the legislation? You all HAVE read every page of the bill right? You know the one Pelosi said "We have to pass it - to find out what is in it..."?

Lets add a different dimension to this. Do you want to trust Congress with your health? Medicare is a good example. Yes it works and most seniors are well taken care of. But each year Congress has to take emergency action to prevent drastic cuts to the doctor's reimbursement rate. This emergency action has been required for at least the last decade. There is a requirement in Federal Law called the Sustainable Growth Rate which mandates annual changes in what your doctor is paid for each service and each year it has called for a reduction in payment. The reduction for next year will be on the order of 30+% unless Congress prevents it. While most Congressional members acknowledge the formula is flawed, they don't have the will (guts) to correct it. Like Social Security, the Medicare funds have been borrowed by Congress to allow them to increase spending on their favorite projects and now the IOU's are coming due causing major budget problems. Should I point out that both Trent Lott and Al Gore were very clear that it was wrong to "borrow" the money and those specific funds should be "Put in a Lock Box and out of Congressional hands". I personally do not want their greedy fingers grubbing in the health care pot.
There are things that they can do to make coverage more affordable and easily obtained, but...............................

@Donna- In my conversations with people from Europe and Canada, they don't complain about their health care system. In fact, they are thankful that they have a system in which they know they can receive care without having to worry if they can afford it. They all think we are crazy!

And if the health care system is so bad in Europe and Canada, why is their infant mortality rate lower than ours?
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2091rank.html

@Sandy - in my conversations with Euros and Canadians et al my experience has been the complete opposite. Which is why many of them come here for comprehensive healthcare rather than wait on a list or have inferior physicians. Perspective varies widely but this is why we cannot begin to compare our system to that of another country. WE ARE NOT THE UK OR CANADA....

When a Canadian premier, Danny Williams needed surgery, he flew to the U.S. This caused quite the uproar in Canada and his only statement was that "it was a private matter."

Telling.

Come on folks, this is NOT about health or care. It is strictly about GOVERNMENT POWER and CONTROL.
Furthermore, this bill was not even written by the people that serve in the Congress. It was written by the Apollo Group (headed by Jeff Jones). Disgracefully, most that are in Congress and voted for it, did NOT even read the monstrosity bill. Remember, Nancy Pelosi said, "You have to pass the Bill to see what is in it." Americans NEED to wake up, we are losing our freedoms everyday. Look up Cloward and Piven. It will enlighten you and then spread the word.
Remember it is WE THE PEOPLE!
The objective is to put private health insurance companies out of business so that everyone will be on the government dole. All of this is not a secret. The politicians are
lying about this when you see them on tv. The mainstream media is covering for them.

Why do people not understand that we all pay for the uninsured? We pay for their care in Medicad programs( our taxes). Those of us who have Health Care insurance pay higher amounts to cover the uninsured. Hospitals are passing the cost of treating the uninsured on to the insured. That is why Health insurance has risen. The American people need Health Insurance that is affordable to all & all should be required to carry it. We are all required to carry Car Insurance if we drive. Why are we protesting Health Care & not Car Insurance? We also need to look at cutting the costs of care & liability judgements these increase everyones cost.
delivering health care

Wow I'm not even sure where to begin with that one - YES we pay for the uninsured - we do for uninsured motorists too. It's part of being involved in risk-based businesses but you cannot for a minute compare health insurance to car insurance. For example car insurance does NOT cover you if you treat your car like garbage for it's functional lifetime. But you expect taxypayer funded health insurance to treat someone, for free, who has eaten poorly, smoked, and drank excessively their entire life? CMON that's not even a valid part of this discussion...

TM does working in Health Care make you the know all be all by anwering everyones comment? I too work in Health Care & have for many years. All citizens should have Health Care & pay for it if they can. Who is going to police the Obese etc. You?

It is hard to miss the humor in this (well, it would be funny if it weren't so sad). The Obama care plan was created by the very conservative Heritage Foundation and was the Republican position in opposition to the Clinton plan and right up to the point the Republican insurance executives came to Obama and proposed it as an alternative to the plan he originally proposed so that the legislation could get passed. The funny thing is that the Republicans (whose most single important issue is opposition for the sake of opposition) who originally tauted this plan as a way to address the health care crisis without the government being involved in either insuring or providing health care and as a way to promote individual responsibility, then pulled a quick reversal of positions and declared it socialism and unconstitutional!! Amazing. Not surprising, but amazing.

I would be open to hearing anything suggesting that Republicans rejected the idea at any point prior to Obama adopting their position. I know during the Republican debates this year I heard Newt acknowledge that the idea came from the Heritage Foundation and there was another question to the candidates about this fact that none disputed. It was Bob Dole's position and I'm pretty sure the Republicans did offer it up as legislation as the alternative to the Clinton plan. It's no accident that Romney promoted it in Massachusetts; it was the Republican position generally. And he spoke favorably of Obama doing it when Obama turned to that position part way through the effort to pass health care legislation. One thing that is also clear is that it isn't remotely a socialist position, unlike Medicare or Social Security (an idea that literally came from the Socialist Party).

This idea has been in and out of congress for years, never formulated as to action plan. No plan will be satisfactory, especially with cost to the taxpayer, higher insurance premium costs and waivers for the federal government to pick up the tab for low wage earners.
Obama initially campaigned to reduce health care cost for Americans and as usual the plan is perverted as he flip-flops for votes. As the law stands, its Unconstituional, however I do see the value certain provisions for coverage. Some being pre existing condition and no premiums hikes for higher cost if presently ill. The ability to buy insurance across state lines just makes sense. Joining a group or membership to reduce premiums will spawn competition and reduce out of pocket cost allowing more people to afford health care, but not mandate you have to purchase or pay the penalty.

Repeal ObamaCare and end its unconstitutional mandate that all Americans must carry only government-approved health insurance or answer to the IRS.

* Allow purchase of health insurance across state lines.

* Provide tax credits and deductions for all medical expenses.

* Exempt those with terminal illnesses from the employee portion of payroll taxes while they are suffering from such illnesses or are incurring significant medical costs associated with their conditions.

* Give a payroll deduction to any worker who is the primary caregiver for a spouse, parent, or child with a terminal illness.

* Ensure that those harmed during medical treatment receive fair compensation while reducing the burden of costly malpractice litigation on the health care system by providing a tax credit for “negative outcomes” insurance purchased before medical treatment.

* Guarantee that what is taken from taxpayers to pay for Medicare and Medicaid is not raided for other purposes.

* Make all Americans eligible for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and remove government-imposed barriers to obtaining HSAs.

* Stop the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from interfering with Americans’ knowledge of and access to dietary supplements and alternative treatments.

* Prevent federal bureaucrats from tracking every citizen’s medical history from cradle to grave by prohibiting the use of taxpayer funds for a national database of personal health information.

Our system ROCKS - it needs a few tweaks - as I've proposed here... THATS IT...

@ Richard Hertz: While President Clinton was pushing for employers to cover their workers in his 1993 bill, John Chafee of Rhode Island, along with 20 other GOP senators and Rep. Bill Thomas of California, introduced legislation that instead featured an individual mandate. Four of those Republican co-sponsors were Orin Hatch, Charles Grassley of Iowa, Robert Bennett of Utah and Christopher Bond of Missouri.

I pray the SCOTUS upholds the US Constitution tomorrow. That's it... I pray for this nation but God is Sovreign in all things - that's my salvation...

Leave it alone by a vote of 6-3. Socialism here we come. Why work when you can get it for free?

There can be a difference between what you and a health insurance company consider healthy. Some insurers will say that you have a health condition if you smoke, are overweight, are taking prescriptions, or had a medical condition in the past. If this describes you, you may want to search and read "Penny Health" on the web.

The interesting thing is not a single bullet point in the plan I laid out just now is mentioned in the billion page legislation. Hmmm wonder why that is?

The only time I see myself going to a doctor is in the ER. So I always had a policy that just covered illness and hospitalization for some reason after Obama care starting going into effect it went up 300%. Not sure how that is making it affordably for everyone, in fact I said to with that and stoped paying.

Most insurances price based on risk factors. If you're a lousy driver with a thick record you'll get high rates. I fail to see how, fiscally, with our population numbers and not even mentioning illegal immigrants, we can afford to cover everyone, regardless of their health presently or their past lifestyle choices. Name me a country with our size, and population, that has been able to pull this off. I've laid out bullet points that would be easy to implement and wholly make the current system equitable, profitable, and affordable. NOT FREE - but very affordable. Free healthcare is available now - through many sources in this country for those who fall outside the 'affordable' umbrella. If you state sponsor free healthcare EVERYONE is going to fall outside the 'affordable' umbrella. If you give someone 2+ years of unemployment they will typically take 2+ years to find another job... How this is hard to understand baffles me.

We the people have lost yet again. It is hard to imagine that we have allowed this insanity to go on so long. 2012 is an election year. Let's get out and vote and put a stop to this insanity on capital Hill. If you don't vote then you are part of the problem.