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Uninsured Sacramento Citizens Relieved Over Health Care Ruling

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - For one woman who just wants to be called Angelina, being one of the 30 million uninsured is literally painful.

"I was hit by a car and it fractured my back. I had two surgeries on arms and my wrists," said Angelina.

It's been three months since she's been to a doctor.

"I have a pair of glasses from the dollar store. That's the best I can do," said Angelina.

So, when word spread that the Affordable Care Act had been upheld, people like Angelina were relieved.

"For me it's such a relief to know that, my children, they have health issues too," said Angelina.

But even she has some questions, the biggest one: "Basically, like how much will we have to pay?"

"I think the theory is the cost should come down," said Professor Brian Landsberg, McGeorge School of Law.

But Landsberg says aside from that it's anyone's guess exactly how much each person will pay.

Others argue costs will go up overall. But one thing's for sure, you will pay a penalty or tax if you don't get insurance beginning in 2014.

"If you're below 133 percent of poverty line, you'll get it through Medicaid in California anyway," said Landsberg.

Health care advocates say the more than seven million uninsured Californians should be happy with Thursday's ruling.

"We're looking at another 167,000 people in Sacramento County who'll have health insurance," said Jonathan Porteus, The Effort CEO.

For people like Angelina, a former construction worker brought down by a car wreck, it can't come soon enough.

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