Mary Brown, a 56-year-old Florida woman is the lead plaintiff challenging President Obama's Affordable Care Act. Brown "doesn't have insurance. She doesn't want to pay for it. And she doesn't want the government to tell her she has to have it," said Karen Harned, a lawyer for a corporate groups financing the lawsuit.
But it turns out Brown is happy to have the government force other to pay for her medical bills. Brown and her husband filed for bankruptcy last fall with $4,500 in unpaid medical bills. She has demanded the Court let her get free health care leaving the $4,500 tab to medical providers.
The President rightly argued that the family insurance requirement is justified because everyone, sooner or later, needs healthcare. Those who fail to have insurance are at high risk of running up bills they cannot pay, sticking the rest of society with the cost. Brown's situation is a perfect example of exactly that kind of "uncompensated care that will ultimately be paid by others."
Brown, reached by telephone Thursday, babbled incoherently. She said she always paid her bills, as well as my medical bills." (Yet she wants the bankruptcy court to let her not pay her medical bills.) She said "I never said medical insurance is not a necessity.” (That’s what the President says too).
She said "I believe that anyone has unforeseen things that happen to them that are beyond their control." (Yes, bucko, and that is why folks need insurance, rather than sticking the rest of society with the tab). Brown also said. "Who says I don't have insurance right now?" (Smart move. I guess you need to withdraw as a plaintiff).
Actually the corporate group has kicked her off as a plaintiff and asked to replace her with a new one. They admitted it has been no easy task to find people who do not have insurance and don’t want it, particularly when their veracity is tested over the time of the litigation.
The hospital she owes money to is less than pleased it is stuck with the tab.
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