Individual Mandate Surivives as a Tax

The Supreme Court upheld the individual insurance requirement at the heart of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Breaking away from the court’s other conservative justices, Chief Justice John Roberts announced the judgment that allows the law to go forward with its aim of covering more than 30 million uninsured Americans. From Chief Robert’s opinion:

“We do not consider whether the Act embodies sound policies. That judgment is entrusted to the Nation's elected leaders. We ask only whether Congress has the power under the Constitution to enact the challenged provisions… 

"Beginning in 2014, those who do not comply with the mandate must make a '[s]hared responsibility payment' to the Federal Government. That payment, which the Act describes as a 'penalty,' is calculated as a percentage of household income…”

Read more of Associated Press’s article here.