What Waukee is Saying About the Affordable Health Care Act

It's being hailed as a landmark political decision but is more about giving citizens the best care possible, says one Waukee physician.

Dr. Brianne Day of the says giving everyone equal access to insurance is one of the keys to keeping people of all ages - newborn to the elderly - healthy.

What do you think? How will Iowans be affected by the ruling? Tell us in the comments.

"I'm not at all political but obviously people having health care coverage means they can get the care they need when they need it," said Day. "It means they can get preventative care so they don't get sick and it means if they do get sick, or if they even cut their finger, they won't have to try to pare things down because they have to pay out-of-pocket."

Day said while most patients she sees at the clinic have private health insurance, she does still see patients who either have minimal health care coverage or none at all and incur the cost themselves. In those cases, she said, both doctor and patient are forced to decide what aspects of their treatment are the most important.

"There are times when we might have to decide, 'Well, you need test one, two and three for us to make a diagnosis,' and they can only afford test one," said Day. "When we try to slim things down, that doesn't always translate into the best care."

David Leonard of Waukee said the Supreme Court's ruling is more than just a victory for President Barack Obama. It's a victory for everyone.

"President Obama and all those who voted for the Affordable Care Act have been vindicated by the decision of the Supreme Court upholding the law," Leonard said. "Millions of people in the U.S. are already reaping benefits from the act - young people who are able to stay on their parents' health insurance, to cite just one example. More and more will see the benefits as the law is phased in over time."

Leonard said while it does ensure equal rights to health care, he believes it would benefit from future alteration.

"The Affordable Care Act is far from perfect, but it can be tweaked and adjusted as the need arises so that eventually all Americans can feel secure about their health care," he added.

What others are saying:

"I am absolutely thrilled that the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act.  Health care reform has been a big cause for me and my family.

However, I am worried about how the law will be implemented in Iowa. Because Gov. Branstad decided to wait for the Supreme Court ruling to work on a plan for Iowa, we are now in danger of not having a broad section of Iowans decide how Iowa is going to implement the Affordable Care Act.

Gov. Branstad made a conscious decision to ignore the consequences. There are now only six months to put together a plan that is fair for all Iowans. This is definitely an example of how Gov. Branstad takes his orders from the National Republican Party." - Julie Stewart Ziesman

"I welcome the United States Supreme Court's affirmation of this landmark legislation. This landmark legislation will continue to positively impact Iowa families and give unprecedented access to healthcare and protect the 12 percent of Iowans currently living without health insurance. At minimum, Iowa children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage, Iowa young adults have the security of coverage until age 26 and Iowans with pre-existing conditions now have the security of coverage.

Now, Iowa has a choice; do you elect a state Senator in District 22 that will be on the side of Iowans in implementation of Iowa's Health Care Exchange or do you side with derailing constitutionally upheld law based on partisan politics and political theater? The November ballot box will answer my question." - Desmund Adams, candidate for Senate District 22