Affordable Care Act : Day 3

After three separate sessions this week, the decision concerning whether the Affordable Care Act is constitutional still remains, if congress proceeds with the individual mandate, and it’s found unconstitutional, where do the rest of the laws stand? Deputy Attorney General Edwin S. Kneedler argued, “if it were to fall only two other provisions of the law should follow suit and fall, as well.” Risk factors of insurance companies, and the effects of if the mandate did indeed fall were discussed at great length. All information has been submitted to the justices’ and they will come to a decision by June.

A second meeting was held during the afternoon to discuss the expansion of Medicaid. The matter of whether or not the states will be coerced to comply with the mandate was a concern because they will be relying on the government for initial funding when their program expands in 2014. By 2017 the state will be covering up to 5 percent of the cost of care. Expanding the bracket for both age, and income will make it possible for millions of Americans to receive coverage.

What are your thoughts? Do you think the affordable care act is constitutional? How do you think it will impact the Medicaid expansion in 2014?

Listen to all hearings from Day 3 here.

View transcript from Day 3 here.