Local residents react to the Supreme Court’s ruling [Standard-Speaker, Hazleton, Pa.]

June 29--Members of the Greater Hazleton Area have varying opinions on the affordable health care mandate dubbed Obamacare. Thursday, the Supreme Court upheld the mandate that will require Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a tax.

Some community members don't have health insurance or are only covered through a part of the Affordable Care Act that allows young adults to stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26.

Eve Jones, a Hazleton native, doesn't have health insurance.

"I will purchase insurance eventually, because it is more important than how much I make," Jones said as she sat on a bench in Community Park. "But this will effect the people that aren't making much money and make people worse off."

Twenty-year-old Kaitlyn Meck and 20-year-old Brett Fidishun are covered by their parents' insurance.

"I didn't have health insurance when I was 18, so I was happy when the law was passed that I can be on my parents' insurance until I'm 26," Meck said as she was working at Gould's Shur Save Supermarket. "At the same time, it seems like a catch-22, you should have a right to choose to have it or not."

Fidishun, a Sugarloaf native, believes that it is good, but there will be obstacles to face.

"I was talking to some guys at my other job about this, and what I don't see how people will be forced to pay if they can't afford it," Fidishun said at Gould's Supermarket. "I think it's good, but there will be obstacles to face."

Hazleton native Amy Bobrowski was in the park with her three-year-old daughter Thursday afternoon. Bobrowski, who has health insurance coverage, believes that the mandate is unfair.

"You need to work to get insurance," Bobrowski said. "I know it's unfortunate for people in certain circumstances, but I think it's unfair for people who work."

Assistant to the Director at Lackawanna College, Lisa Tulino, has health insurance, but doesn't agree with the mandate.

"I do not believe that people should be forced to purchase health care or employers," Tulino said. "It's unconstitutional and people in general shouldn't be forced to do something."

Tulino knows the importance of health insurance but doesn't agree in the way it is being mandated.

"Health insurance is a small price to pay for something that might end up happening, Tulino said. "There just has to be some other option."

Doreen Sando has health insurance and believes that the mandate is close to where it should be, but not quite there yet.

"I think that Obama's plan is going in the right direction, but that he's taking the wrong path," Sando said as she stood next to her granddaughter, Hannah.

Other members of the community express concern.

Retired Military Police Officer Ken Rice is covered by TRICARE military health insurance and he has worked to receive it.

"I have mixed emotions about how it will effect cost of things," Rice said. "We live in a powerful country in the world so we should be able to have health insurance, but there are people who don't want to work and want a free ride."

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