Washington officials promise cheaper, better health care coverage

The Supreme Court has ruled that Congress can require
Americans to carry health insurance or pay a penalty, the
key part of President Barack Obama’s health care law.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion,
saying while Congress did overreach in part with the
individual mandate – the requirement that most Americans
buy health insurance or pay a fine – the measure is
constitutional as a tax.

Critics call the requirement an unconstitutional overreach
by Congress and the Obama administration; supporters say
it
is necessary to finance the health care plan, and well
within the government’s powers under the Commerce Clause
of
the U.S. Constitution.

Washington’s insurance commissioner says more people will
be covered, others coverage improved and prices ultimately
lowered by increased competition.

“In 2014, we’re going to see 800,000 people in the state
of
Washington who do not have health insurance now covered
and for tens of thousands of other people who do have
health insurance they’re going to have real health
insurance for the first time,” said commissioner Mike
Kreidler in a live interview with 97.3 KIRO FM moments
after the ruling.

>>>Listen: Washington insurance
commissioner Mike Kreidler applauds health care ruling

The measure requires all people to obtain health insurance
or pay a penalty.

“We have over a million people without health insurance.
We have hundreds of thousands of others with insurance
that’s
inadequate. We need to get our hands around this.”

Kreidler says the legislation should control or ultimately
lower prices for everyone.

“We need to make sure we get more and more people covered,
that’s the challenge for all of us. The more people that
are outside that can cost shift on the rest of us meaning
we have to pick up their health insurance bills or the
bills that they accrue in hospital emergency rooms. That
means these people are getting a free ride at our
expense,” Kreidler says.

Congressman Jim McDermott also points out that the plan
cuts down on the number of patients who get a free ride.

>>>Listen to Congressman Jim McDermott
react to health care ruling

“We made a mechanism so that no one has to be a free-
rider. You can go down to the insurance exchange and buy a
policy. If you can’t afford it, we will subsidize you.
We’re going to take care of everybody.”

Kreidler says uncompensated care costs in the state are
“conservatively one billion dollars a year.” The Kaiser
Family Foundation estimates a family of four pays in
excess of $1,000 per year on their premiums to cover the
costs of the uninsured.

Governor Christine Gregoire applauds the ruling and is
pleased the legal details of the Affordable Care Act are
cleared up.

“I look forward to the day not long from now when more
than 800,000 people in our state will be able to use our
Health Benefit Exchange to get the health insurance that
they need but currently must go without.”

>>>Listen: Interview with Gov. Gregoire
on health care
ruling

Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, the Republican
candidate for governor, was one of several who led the
unsuccessful legal challenge.

“Our system of government provides a series of checks and
balances, allowing new laws,especially ones that raise
major constitutional questions, to be tested in court,”
said Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna. “While
we’re disappointed that this close decision did not find
in the states’ favor with regard to the individual
mandate, the country benefits from a thoughtful debate
about the reach of federal power into the legal rights of
the states and the personal financial decisions of all
Americans.”

Critics continue blasting the ruling and the controversial
law. Dr. Roger Stark, a health care analyst with the
Washington Policy Center, argues the measure will actually
increase costs and compromise care for all of those who
already have insurance.

“We’re still going to have $580 billion in cuts to
Medicare, we’re still going to see the largest tax
increase in the history of this country and we’re going to
add millions more people to our Medicaid program that’s
already bankrupt,” Stark said during an interview with
Seattle’s Morning News.

>>>Listen: Dr. Roger Stark/Washington
Policy Center criticizes Affordable Care Act

Stark disputes arguments by supporters the Affordable Care
Act won’t impact coverage for people with insurance and
will allow for more greater choice.

“We know that because of the employer mandate employers
are planning to drop employee health care benefits.”
Stark says surveys have found 30% of small employers will
reduce or eliminate medical coverage, while 10% of large
employers like Boeing and Microsoft plan to reduce
benefits.

The court’s four liberal justices, Stephen Breyer, Ruth
Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, joined
Roberts in the outcome.

Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Samuel Alito and
Clarence Thomas were the minority on the court dissenting
from the majority opinion.

The decision means the historic overhaul will continue to
go into effect over the next several years, affecting the
way that countless Americans receive and pay for their
personal medical care.

The ruling also handed President
Obama a campaign-season victory in rejecting arguments
that Congress went too far in requiring most Americans to
have health insurance or pay a penalty.

The Associated Press contributed to this report