The Supreme Court's landmark decision on healthcare on June 28 has been the main topic of discussion in the news this past week, and will likely remain front and center for weeks to come.

As it should be, since it affects each and every American in one way or another. The various aspects of the plan are being analyzed in an effort to determine what will, and what won't be acceptable in the years to come.

While a federal healthcare system has its staunch supporters as well as its strong opponents, one thing most of us can agree on: it's time to take a good, hard look at skyrocketing healthcare costs and the many things health insurance does and doesn't cover. Most families with health insurance are struggling to pay their premiums, while those who are uninsured live in fear that they may require hospitalization or costly medications they can't afford.

While we were obviously aware that many Americans have no health insurance coverage, we must say we were truly shocked to learn, when reading an Associated Press story, just how bad the problem is in some states.

Maine is actually in a much better position than some states, with a reported 9.4 percent of its residents uninsured. Texas, on the other hand, has a whopping 25 percent of its residents uninsured, with several others not too far off – Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada and Florida at 21 percent, Louisiana and South Carolina at 20 percent, and a number in the 18 to 19 percent range, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Georgia and Idaho.
Our neighbor to the south Massachusetts boasts only 2 percent, thanks to a 2006 law which is apparently similar to the one introduced on the federal level.

Maine has already passed legislation cutting its Medicaid program in an effort to balance the budget and to bring the state's spending on healthcare more in line with other states, and was hoping to get federal permission to move forward with its new law. Other states have made similar cuts and are awaiting approval, but so far nobody has been notified they can proceed with reductions in their Medicaid services.

At a time when the federal government is looking to expand healthcare coverage, it's highly doubtful that Maine or any other state will get permission to make cuts, no matter what their budget constraints.

All of us will be watching closely to see what happens in the coming months and what it will mean for us personally, as well for Maine overall.

Needless to say, there will be winners and losers, but hopefully in the long run we'll all see some much-needed changes in the present health insurance system.