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Lawmakers React to SCOTUS Health Care Ruling

Updated Thursday, June 28, 2012

Written By: Renata Stiehl

Lawmakers React to SCOTUS Health Care Ruling

Statement from Rep. Tom Reed, (R) New York 29th Congressional District:

“I respect the Supreme Court’s decision to essentially uphold Obamacare, but I am very troubled by the ramifications. This decision greatly expands the government’s ability to tax and interfere in people’s lives. This is bad news for patients, taxpayers and the economy.

“Health care premiums continue to rise at a rate much higher than inflation and the mandates of the act are having a chilling impact on job creation. Businesses legitimately fear anticipated cost increases when the law is fully implemented next year. We need to fully repeal the Affordable Care Act.

“The reality is that as the law stands, Obamacare will cost trillions and will be paid for by billions in tax increases and a $500 billion reduction in funding for Medicare.

“I will continue to work to repeal this law. What we need to do is carry forward with patient-centered reforms such as requiring coverage for pre-existing conditions, allowing children up to age 26 to be carried on a parent’s policy, and covering preventive health care services like mammograms for women.

“The nation will have to make a decision at the polls this November regarding what direction to go. People will need to choose between repealing Obamacare or continuing to a future of massive tax increases on individuals and businesses and a significantly larger, more invasive government. I believe in individual choice and empowering patients rather than health care by unaccountable bureaucrats or administrators.”

Statement from Rep. Maurice Hinchey, (D) NY 22nd Congressional District:

"Finally, our country can move forward. With this decision, we can now enjoy the greatest victory for improving the health and well-being of all Americans since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. I applaud the Court for not allowing politics to interfere with its job of upholding the Constitution. As a result of this ruling, millions of Americans will now be able to keep or gain access to quality health insurance coverage, seniors will face lower costs for prescription drugs, and children can stay on their parents' plans until they're 26 years old.

"The Affordable Care Act was one of, if not the most, significant pieces of legislation I voted for during my 20 years in Congress. I proudly voted for it because all American deserve access to quality, affordable health insurance, not just a select group.

"Even though a huge component of the Affordable Care Act doesn't go into effect for another two years, the parts of the law that have already been implemented have provided extraordinary benefits to New Yorkers. Already, 160,000 young New York adults have gained insurance coverage; more than 250,000 Medicare participants in New York have received a $250 drug rebate and collectively saved more than $269 million on their prescriptions; more than 2 million New Yorkers with Medicare received free preventative services; and 6.4 million New Yorkers with pre-existing conditions such as cancer no longer have to worry that their insurance providers will drop them.

"Because of the Affordable Care Act, across the country: nearly 13 million Americans will benefit from $1.1 billion in rebates from insurance companies this summer; millions of women starting in August will begin receiving free coverage for a package of comprehensive women’s preventive health services; 46 million seniors have received one or more free preventive services; 105 million Americans no longer have a lifetime limit on their coverage; 17 million children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage by insurers; 3.4 million seniors had a free annual wellness visit under Medicare; and 360,000 small employers used the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit last year to help them afford health insurance for 2 million workers.

"And the best is yet to come. In 2014, each state will open up a health insurance exchange from which Americans will be able to choose from a menu of different insurance options that will have contained costs along with a basic set of requirements that will ensure a basic level of comprehensive coverage."

Statement from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, (D) New York:

“I am pleased the Supreme Court reaffirmed the hard fought progress that was made to ensure that no one can be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition, being a woman will no longer be a pre-existing condition, young adults will be covered, prescription drug costs for seniors will be reduced, preventive care including life-saving mammograms will be accessible and that insurance companies can’t cancel their coverage when you get sick. It is time to get beyond scoring political points and get back to finding common core values and passing legislation that will help grow our economy and get more people back to work."

Statement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, (D) New York:

"Thanks to the leadership of President Obama and his administration, particularly Secretary Sebelius, the Affordable Care Act will provide access to health care to millions of Americans nationwide and more than one million New Yorkers, and I am pleased the Supreme Court upheld this law. We will continue to move forward with implementing the health exchange that will lower coverage costs for New York's businesses and help ensure that uninsured New Yorkers have access to health care. We look forward to continuing to work together with the Obama administration to ensure accessible, quality care for all New Yorkers."