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06/28/2012 03:46 PM

Health Care Bill Decision A Relief To Some, Others Worry

By: Vivian Lee

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As New Yorkers weigh Thursday's Supreme Court decision many were left wondering about its eventual impact on both the health care system locally and their pockets. NY1's Vivian Lee filed the following report.

Livery cab driver Warwick Busfield has had no health insurance for a decade. So Thursday's Supreme Court decision means that as of 2014, even if he still can't afford insurance, the government will help him pay for a plan.

In addition, insurance companies won't be able to turn him down for having chronic illnesses or pre-existing conditions.

"This debate about health care has been going on president after president for 20, 30 years. This guy's finally got something done. I don't know if it's great but its better than not doing anything for all that time," said Busfield.

The decision also permits the penalty for anyone who doesn't buy health insurance: Higher taxes. And that did not sit well with everyone in Park Slope.

"How are we going to afford that? That's a lot. That's too much. That's unfair," said one Park Slope resident.

A spokeswoman for New York Methodist Hospital declined to comment. But the decision is good news for hospitals which often bear the burden of providing care to the uninsured.

"Everyone deserves health care. So like whatever the country can do to help out as much as they can," noted one doctor.

"Just having our son Jack I think I can't imagine how expensive it would be if we did not have insurance so I think it's great and glad they approved the decision," said one Brooklyn resident.

Another doctor tells NY1 with more Americans than ever before insured under the Affordable Care Act, health care providers should be able to treat more and more patients who need medical care.