Central Ohioans sounded off about Thursday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld much of President Barack Obama’s health care ruling.
More than 1.5 million Ohioans are uninsured – 14 percent of the population, 10TV’s Kurt Ludlow reported.
Maurice Thompson of the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law said that he was fully opposed to Obama’s Affordable Care Act.
“What this act does is it doesn’t treat you like an adult, it treats you like a child,” Thompson said. “It says you don’t know how best to run your own life. And we, the federal government, are here to run it for you.”
Thompson said that he has not purchased insurance for himself in four years and pays for medical treatment out of pocket.
According to Thompson, he is healthy and does not want to pay for other people’s health problems.
“And, so there are lots of people that think this way and feel this way and don’t want to subsidize the other people in the insurance pool, you know, the obese or people who smoke heavily and want no part of that,” Thompson said.
Frank Pulsinelli is a father of eight who said that the Affordable Care Act has allowed him to keep his older children on his health plan.
“Well, I have older-aged children that (are) working different types of businesses, freelancing,” Pulsinelli said. “I’ve had health emergencies occur that the health care reform has enabled me to keep my older children under health care. And it’s been very very good for us.”
Pulsinelli said that his son Alex was attacked while leaving work one night, Ludlow reported
“He had reconstructive surgery here in Columbus,” Pulsinelli said. “Fortunately, we were able to access the best surgeon and the best medical care for his full and successful recovery. Insurance paid for the vast majority of that, like it should, and that’s what it’s designed to do. He was able to avoid bankruptcy.”
Pulsinelli said that he was grateful that the Affordable Care Act would continue for at least the time being.
“There’s no reason whatsoever why, in a country as great as ours, people can’t be insurance and all receive their own right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Pulsinelli said.
Ohio has yet to implement the health care exchanges required under the act.
10TV News’ multiple attempts to contact Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who serves as the Insurance Commissioner, were unsuccessful.
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