Supreme Court Health Care Arguments Extended To Six Hours

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court has added another 30 minutes to upcoming arguments over President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The sessions now will span six hours over three days in late March.

The justices on Tuesday set aside 30 more minutes, 90 minutes overall, for discussion of the effect on the health care case of a federal law intended to make tax collections run smoothly. That law forces people who want to challenge taxes to pay them first.

The court also will hear two hours of argument on the law's requirement that most people purchase insurance or pay a penalty beginning in 2014; 90 minutes on whether the rest of the law can remain in place if the individual insurance requirement falls; and an hour on the expansion of Medicaid program.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[BklynDame]

04:39 PM on 02/22/2012

There is absolutely nothing 'supreme' about the far right side of this court. Rulings based on right-wing ideology simply prove they're store bought and paid for.

http://borderlessnewsandviews.com/

[Liberal2]

03:51 PM on 02/22/2012

I have no confidence this Supreme Court will come to a logical...legal....decision. They will make an ideological decision.

[Killermolls44]

06:42 PM on 02/22/2012

Sounds terrifying. I wish we could have a completely unbiased supreme court. No one who is for either major side. Just unbiased... Sigh.. in a perfect world.

[Headhunterturner]

03:38 PM on 02/22/2012

So how much does it cost to buy a Supream Court these days? OR does your last name jsut need to be BUSH?

[vicla1942]

02:54 PM on 02/22/2012

Gives them more time to see what right wing billionaire will
pay for a favorable decision.

[Exfl]

02:00 PM on 02/22/2012

If the Court finds a mandated purchase to somehow be unconstitutional there is a simple solution. Tax every American the cost of a basic health insurance plan and then provide a 100% rebate to every American who obtains some sort of coverage. Funds raised from the non-rebated taxes can be used to assist providers who care for those who exercise their freedom of choice not to buy insurance. This will end the practice of "free-riding" where people don't buy coverage, don't pay their bills, and the cost of their care is spread by charging extra for all of us who are insured.

[glenn brian]

02:43 PM on 02/22/2012

What about those who don't have insurance because they don't get sick or go to the doctor? Will they still be taxed by your plan? If they don't go to the doctor in a given year, will they receive a refund?

[Greta42]

03:09 PM on 02/22/2012

That is not a credible scenario - You have never been to a doctor, an emergency room? Those who SAY they don't get sick and don't have insurance currently, go to the ER and the rest of us have to pay the bill for them.
How do you know you will never be involved in an auto accident and need to be taken to an ER? You may want to gamble, but the rest of us shouldn't have to pay for you because you have no insurance.

[chadwilson]

03:47 PM on 02/22/2012

Just because someone has not gotten sick yet does not mean they will not in the future. The whole purpose of insurance as a business is to hedge against those who are collecting with those who are not but will in the future. It is a fundamental economic principal.

[ByThePowerOfGrayskull]

02:52 PM on 02/22/2012

To what end would that serve? That would be a great precedent to tax every citizen who decides not to purchase an electric car.

[Exfl]

05:46 PM on 02/22/2012

I didn't say whether it was a good idea or not. I said it was constitutional. Actually, anyone who knows how hospitals work understands that those who willingly choose to be uninsured are sponging off all of those who pay for insurance whenever they have a serious illness or injury. They can't or won't pay their bill and their costs get shifted to the clients of the insurance companies, which in turn raise our premiums.

[TFlint]

01:04 PM on 02/22/2012

I have had three cancer operations paid by Medicare. Out of pocket cost for me, $2000. I have an uninsured friend who had just one of the same operations. Out of pocket cost, $300,000.

[Exfl]

02:02 PM on 02/22/2012

Most people don't have pockets that deep. They either don't pay or file for bankruptcy. The hospital then covers its loss by increasing the fees it charges you, me and others who are insured.

[Greta42]

03:10 PM on 02/22/2012

Precisely the point - We will eventually end up with single payer, which Medicare is by the way. And that will really save us money when we get rid of the insurance companies.

[Okieborn]

10:44 AM on 02/22/2012

The poor and middleclass has lost any chance of fairness when considering any decisions from the corporate owned republican supreme court !
I was taught that the supreme court was a fair court for all , but those days are gone, until President Obama is given a chance to level the playing field.

[vicla1942]

02:56 PM on 02/22/2012

This court has been a total disgrace to the nation.

[enhancedvibes]

07:39 AM on 02/23/2012

And that is a good argument for another four years in office. Americans benefit when the SCOTUS is more balanced in its ideology.

[DennyCrane]

10:29 AM on 02/22/2012

They would need even more time if Clarence Thomas actually bothered to talk. But since he just sits there and says nothing, that saves time.

[gmombarb]

11:23 AM on 02/22/2012

Why ask questions when your mind is made up!

[TFlint]

12:57 PM on 02/22/2012

And bought and paid for.

[vicla1942]

02:56 PM on 02/22/2012

He is waiting for gifts to be delivered.

[Martha Fair]

10:27 AM on 02/22/2012

When I look at this photo...all I feel is a total all-encompassing contempt for them and how easily a human being can sell out all his values and morality for a little chump change.

The Supreme hypocrisy of this corrupted court knows no bounds and makes me want to vomit.

[cornel]

10:13 AM on 02/22/2012

This is what happens when you make a half baked law ! Single payer would have avoided all those discussion about mandates and Medicare !

[den1953]

10:45 AM on 02/22/2012

Not to worry the Insurance Corporations stand to make billions on this law there is no reason for the Supreme Court to interfere with profits, you make American people buy your product at all cost they will lobby for that part of the bill!

[Okieborn]

10:48 AM on 02/22/2012

A great and factual comment !

[Imagine 39]

10:07 AM on 02/22/2012

Why is ther nothing on Huff Post about the upcoming Supreme Court case on lying about military service.
I can't wait till Thomas and Scalia take their usual over reaching stance so we can start prosecuting politicians for lying.

[enhancedvibes]

07:40 AM on 02/23/2012

There is an actual law against lying about military medals though, and unfortunately none for lying politicians, lol.

[escoffier51]

09:54 AM on 02/22/2012

i quess the court got a call from the koch brothers and other super pacs

[macrose83]

09:47 AM on 02/22/2012

Yesterday, I received a call from my Medical Insurance Company Humana, that my perscription for Lyrica would not be covered and if I wanted this drug to help supress the nerve pain down my leg and in my lower back from my broken L5 Vertibra I would have to fork over the $200.00 bucks myself. But they would tell my doctor he could perscribe something else they saw fit or that was cheaper. This is what is happening in the American Health Care system. Last year United Health Group alone made 4.8 BILLION net profit, yet they say the American People can't run their own non-profit health care for themselves. I pay 600 a month for health care so the insurance companies can tell me how my Doctor can treat me. NOW THATS A DEATH PANEL.

[mydoghasfleas]

09:56 AM on 02/22/2012

My parents are on Medicare -- y'know, that "socialist" program? And through all their health issues, they haven't had to pay one cent out of pocket.

I'll take a government bureaucrat - who has no vested interest in the bottom line - to some insurance company that only cares about a profit.

[GoneLongGone]

10:02 AM on 02/22/2012

Administrative costs for Medicare are a fraction of what private insurers are spending.

[Heroldness]

10:03 AM on 02/22/2012

I have a daughter being cared for in a nursing home. She has MS and her care is more than I am capable of. I just got a letter from her insurance carrier under medicare that a drug most MS patients take is no longer being covered. This drug helps to slow the progression of the disease and without it..............................I think you get the picture. Welcome to the death panel.

[coach5532]

10:04 AM on 02/22/2012

If Obamacare isn't stopped it is going to get much. much worse. The whole concept behind Obamacare is to reduce costs. How do you reduce costs? Reducing the quality of the health care provided and by restricting access. When a person becomes to expensive to care for, based upon some bureaucrats opinion, they will just simply deny you access to care. Of course then, I'm sure you can figure our what happens. My condolences.

[kathyjoe1]

10:19 AM on 02/22/2012

Please read reply below by dsgeorge, a person who pays health insurance claims. Be informed!

[Okieborn]

10:49 AM on 02/22/2012

Ignorance must be bliss for you republican radicals !

[Coinyer101]

09:36 AM on 02/22/2012

Single-payer could not have been challenged on these grounds. Mandates would be unnecessary if everyone just had it........,

[Martha Fair]

10:19 AM on 02/22/2012

BINGO! I see the employers paying for their employer's premiums soon choosing to pay Obama's penalties rather than absorbing the overhead of their employees ever rising health insurance costs. I see more and more people everyday finding themselves without ANY health insurance once their employers begin dropping them like flys. Then I see an attitude adjustment about "socialized" medicine, which is going to sound pretty good just about then. LOL. I can't wait!

[enhancedvibes]

07:47 AM on 02/23/2012

I am surprised so many people think employers will just drop health coverage en masse. Offering good benefits is what fosters employee loyalty. Not to mention employees have to contribute to their coverage. I really dont see large employers or even mid-size employers simply dropping coverage so easily or quickly. But I guess we'll have to wait and see.

[p456]

09:14 AM on 02/22/2012

Now we will feel the wrath of the new K=K=K and Americas #1 lantern holder.