Requiring Individuals to Obtain Health Insurance : A Constitutional Analysis

Author / Creator

Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service. American Law Division

Available as

Online

Summary

Analyzes constitutional issues raised by passage of P.L. 111-148, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which requires individuals to purchase health insurance. Analyzes authority of Cong...

Analyzes constitutional issues raised by passage of P.L. 111-148, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which requires individuals to purchase health insurance. Analyzes authority of Congress to pass a proposal to this effect, and assesses whether there must be exceptions to a requirement to purchase health insurance based on First Amendment freedom of religion. Summarizes legal challenges to the individual responsibility requirement, and reviews additional issues before Supreme Court.

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