The Affordable Care Act is Constitutional 
Tyler Leiskau
Professor Brown
English 102
15 April 2012 The Affordable Care Act is Constitutional
Health care has been a political issue since President Johnson signed the Social Security Act in 1965 that provided Medicare (Health Insurance) for United States citizens 65 years and older. Since 1965 when President Johnson signed the Social Security Act, health care has changed. In 1972 Medicare was now available for younger people who had disabilities and who could not afford Health Insurance. As time has passed, so has the demand for health insurance. In 2010, President Obama came up with the Healthcare Reform Bill that would demand Americans to have health insurance. This topic is a controversial political issue, because of the Tenth Amendment which states, that powers not granted to the federal government or prohibited to the States by the Constitution are reserved to the states or the people. This means that the Federal Government cannot have more power over States and may not force any rules on the people of the United States. Even though the tenth Amendment states that the federal government does not have the power to enforce laws on the states, I still believe that the government should provide healthcare to its citizens because it is a natural right.
You may be asking “What is the Affordable Care Act?” Well, the main goal of this Act is to provide 32 million Americans with affordable health insurance and it will ban insurers from dropping your coverage if you have had preexisting illnesses. The Act will also expand Medicaid to poor Americans except illegal immigrants. This will also give subsidies to low and lower-middle class Americans so that they can afford health insurance. Small businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees may qualify for a tax credit of up to 35 percent of their premium costs, provided they pay at least half of the premium for their employees. However, opponents including every Republican member of Congress, say the
Professor Brown
English 102
15 April 2012 The Affordable Care Act is Constitutional
Health care has been a political issue since President Johnson signed the Social Security Act in 1965 that provided Medicare (Health Insurance) for United States citizens 65 years and older. Since 1965 when President Johnson signed the Social Security Act, health care has changed. In 1972 Medicare was now available for younger people who had disabilities and who could not afford Health Insurance. As time has passed, so has the demand for health insurance. In 2010, President Obama came up with the Healthcare Reform Bill that would demand Americans to have health insurance. This topic is a controversial political issue, because of the Tenth Amendment which states, that powers not granted to the federal government or prohibited to the States by the Constitution are reserved to the states or the people. This means that the Federal Government cannot have more power over States and may not force any rules on the people of the United States. Even though the tenth Amendment states that the federal government does not have the power to enforce laws on the states, I still believe that the government should provide healthcare to its citizens because it is a natural right.
You may be asking “What is the Affordable Care Act?” Well, the main goal of this Act is to provide 32 million Americans with affordable health insurance and it will ban insurers from dropping your coverage if you have had preexisting illnesses. The Act will also expand Medicaid to poor Americans except illegal immigrants. This will also give subsidies to low and lower-middle class Americans so that they can afford health insurance. Small businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees may qualify for a tax credit of up to 35 percent of their premium costs, provided they pay at least half of the premium for their employees. However, opponents including every Republican member of Congress, say the
Cited: Pretlow, Thomas G. "Our Health Care System Needs A Heart Transplant." U.S. Catholic 73.9 (2008): 29-31. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Apr. 2012. Walter, Andrew. “Counterpoint: The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act Fulfills a Natural Right of All American Citizens”. Points of View: Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act. 2011. 14 Apr. 2012 Wolverton II, Joe. "The Unconstitutional Healthcare Bill." New American (2009): 44. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Apr. 2012.