Individual mandate provision of PPACA

Individual mandate provision of PPACA
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Introduction
PPACA is the official name for Obamacare Act or Affordable Care Act. President Obama signed PPACA into law to reform the health care industry on 23rd march 2010. The Supreme Court upheld the law during 28th June 2012. However, questions are still being raised over the constitutionality of the health care law and what it implies for the American public. The issue of the individual mandate on ACA compels American citizens to buy health insurance, although the bill has brought many controversies than intended goals. This paper aims to explain the worldview bases of the bill, the worldview bases of opposition, limits and conflicting role of the government, and justify how these worldviews are shaped.
The worldview bases for the individual mandate
PPACA’s individual mandate requires American citizens to receive health insurance by 2014 or else pay a tax penalty. The individual mandate became effective from 1st January 2014. People, who are not exempted, would be penalized every month that they do not have health insurance. In order to avoid a penalty, people need to get coverage which began by 1st May 2014. People who missed the deadline have to wait until the marketplace will be open again on 15th November 2014. Individual mandate expects all eligible U.S citizens to have at least basic health coverage. In order to avoid fee penalty, it is mandatory to have minimum essential coverage which includes CHIP, Medicaid, Medicare, private medical plans, marketplace exchange and others. People not only require obtaining coverage, but also maintaining it in the entire year unless they qualify for an exemption. All Americans in 2014 qualified from an exemption enabling them to register in a plan which began by 1st may 2014 to avoid fee penalty.
In 2014, the fee penalty for not obtaining insurance is $95 for every adult while $47.5 for every child (to a maximum of $285 for a family) or 1% of an individual’s taxable income. The penalty fee is based on the number of months in a particular year a person has no exemption or without minimum essential coverage. CHIP, Medicare, employer-based coverage, private insurance, Medicaid including all insurance programs bought through state’s marketplace are minimum essential coverage. People, who choose to pay tax, assist to subsidize the health insurance cost bought through the health insurance marketplace. People will be expected to maintain minimum essential coverage both for their dependents and themselves. Whereas certain individuals will be exempted from the penalty or the mandate; others may be provided with financial assistance to support them to pay for the health insurance cost.
The worldview bases for the various opposition to the individual mandate
Research survey shows that more than 50% of Americans are opposed to the Obamacare individual mandate. Throughout this year, the number of people opposing the provision of the law remains high. Only about 39% support the law of the individual mandate. More than 80% of Americans want congress either to the change the legislation or revoke it all together. Critics oppose the health care law’s individual mandate. They wish U.S Supreme Court to revisit several outright lies, distortions and exaggerations surrounding the statute. Many people think that the Supreme Court erred especially of upholding the key provision of the individual mandate. The court defends itself by claiming that the requirement was allowed because the individual mandate is a tax. People feel that they are free not to purchase insurance, but they can pay tax as they used to contribute. Critics argue that the government is overstepping its mandate with the issue of Obamacare individual mandate. Others feel that the law is exaggerated in certain claims that require people to be jailed if they do not purchase insurance. People feel compelled to get a contract for health insurance they do not need or do not want. The law states that those who refuse to purchase the coverage to face penalty and imprisonment. The individual mandate has not been popular. Some individuals know that president Obama had opposed the individual mandate during the democratic primary in 2008. In July 2009, president Obama changed his mind and thus agreed to accept the mandate.
Twenty-six states, including the National Federation of Independent and many individuals have opposed the health care law saying it is a way in which the federal government holds an illegal power grab to undermine the constitution and the principles of federalism.
The provision of the individual mandate compels people to purchase insurance and failure to which lead to fine. Many people perceive that this law is unconstitutional since compelling people to buy health insurance is against the law of liberty.
The Obamacare infringes religious liberty. Currently, Obamacare compels Christians to act against their conscience and subsidize contraceptives, sterilization, and abortions. Hobby Lobby is a firm, which has stated clearly that it will oppose Obamacare policy since the bill infringes religious beliefs of Christians. In Acts 5 states that the Apostles were arrested because they accused the Sadducees. They were supposed to face trials the following day. But when the guards went for them, the prison was empty. The Apostles were released and set free because an angel of the Lord came to their rescue. God helped them and instructed them to oppose the government authorities in order to defend the rights of religious freedom. Peter said that people must obey God, but not men. In ACA, the government is acting above the Christian law, which should not be the case. The government should not compel Christians to do things, which go against their conscience.
The Obamacare forces compliance, which is against God’s law. Freedom is based on real choices. But in ACA, people are in bondage because they cannot make their own decision. In Romans 6:15-23 says that people who are in bondage are entrapped to sin a lot since they cannot help themselves. ACA has taken away people’s freedom, and therefore they are in bondage. God Almighty hates bondage. Roman 6 states that bondage leads to evil oppression and sin. In 1 Corinthians 7:23 says that people should not be slaves of men.
Recently, the president has authorized several exemptions to the mandate which huge majority of the citizens who do not have insurance would not have to pay the tax. Many exemptions have been decreed recently which implies that many people including low-income people and illegal immigrants are exempted from buying health insurance and avoid paying tax. The government is trying to involve in political manipulation to lessen the damage that democrats are facing as they approach the mid-term election. The law of the individual mandate made many people angry and these are people who carry votes. Obama and the democrats are trying to lessen the infliction that people have on the mandate.
Conflicting views of the role and limit of government
Since the formation of the country, there has been a struggle to determine the federal government‘s role, and how much power should be given to the states of the nations and their individual sovereignty. The constitution defines certain powers; though such definitions are still vague based on what is limited. All three branches of the government are given the responsibility of interpreting the constitution. These branches have been ratifying the PPACA, and the bill is currently being implemented. Many complaints have been raised claiming this is gross control. There have been claims that the federal government has no role of meddling between them and the medical doctors. People have no freedom to choose what they want, and the...