Residents react to health care ruling [The York Dispatch, Pa.]

June 29--York resident Joel Duttera summed up his opinion of the Supreme Court's health care ruling pretty succinctly.

"It's terrible," the 72-year-old said, referring specifically to the mandate that everyone have health insurance.

"If America can't run Medicare and Social Security, why would they want to be in the insurance business? They're going to mess it up."

"Something did need to be done, but not socialized healthcare," Duttera added. "Just wait until people start paying for it next year. People don't have any idea what the costs are going to be."

The ruling also requires companies to cover people who have pre-existing conditions, which will likely cause rates to increase, said Duttera, who used to sell insurance.

He was hardly the only Yorker discouraged by the Supreme Court ruling.

"I believe it's unconstitutional to fine someone and it should be a choice to have health insurance," said Chris Donmoyer, 29, of Red Lion. "I don't really want to buy into it."

Added David Tremel, Sr., 63, of York Township: "I don't think the government should be nosing into the health insurance business, bottom line. They're taking control of things and I don't think anybody is going to benefit from it."

Other views: But not everyone was as quick to judge the decision as bad news.

Healthcare is an interesting and complex problem to Kathleen Kowalenko, 60, of York City, who said that it's almost too complex for the majority of people to understand.

A single mom whose employee didn't offer coverage, she said she lived "much of my life without healthcare and I think this ruling is an attempt to take a step in the right direction."

Kowalenko said she will be interested to watch it all pan out in the next few years.

"I would like to think this would make everything more accessible," she said.

And West Manchester Township resident Jasmine Scott, 25, was thrilled with the Supreme Court's decision.

"It's wonderful because it affects me because I can stay under my parents' insurance," said Scott.

Her employer does not provide healthcare coverage, so she has been under her parents' plan while her 3-year-old daughter, Kiera Scott-Miller, is covered by "welfare insurance."

Sam Altland, 63, of York City, said this healthcare ruling proved once again that no one can predict which way the Supreme Court will go on things.

"Businesses will get hurt, drug companies will do OK, and insurance companies will get a lot of business but whether they'll make any money it's hard to say," Altland said.

- Reach Chelsea Shank at 505-5432 or cshank@yorkdispatch.com

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