On Sunday, March 15 Congressman Upton told WMUK that if the Supreme Court strikes down Obamacare, “…in all likelihood the employer mandate’s going to be gone …”

Yes, this is likely, particularly since his own “off ramp” proposal does away with the employer mandate.

But this goes against the act’s basic logic for keeping health insurance costs down: getting everyone on health insurance. Without mandates, many people will drop out of health insurance. Some will get sick anyway, put off care, and end up in emergency rooms — that we all pay for.

Also, with fewer healthy customers the insurance companies will jack up rates. Let’s hope the Supreme Court doesn’t strike down Obamacare; Congressman Upton’s off ramp ends in a ditch.

 

Paul Clements

Kalamazoo

2014 Democratic candidate for Congress