Final answer:
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Individual Mandate as constitutional under Congress's power to tax, affecting both the implementation of the ACA and Medicaid expansion. The decision confirmed federal powers while recognizing limits in penalizing states for not expanding Medicaid. The ACA's funding through taxes has been subject to change, with some taxes being removed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Following the considerations laid out by the National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius case, the U.S. Supreme Court deemed the Individual Mandate portion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as a tax. Therefore, it was considered constitutional under Congress's power to tax citizens. While many have opposed ACA, seeking to overturn it for various reasons, including the belief that it infringes on the individual's right to choose whether to have insurance or not, the Supreme Court's decision affirmed the government's authority in this context. The ruling also impacted the Medicaid expansion by ruling that the federal government cannot withhold all Medicaid funding from states that refuse the expansion, recognizing some limits to the federal government's power.
It's important to note that the Medicaid expansion aspect of the ACA allowed states to expand Medicaid eligibility and receive additional funding, but they could not be penalized for opting out by losing existing funding. Through the ACA, several taxes were introduced, including an increased Medicare tax and taxes on medical device manufacturers and importers, but some of these taxes have since been removed. The controversy and challenges regarding the ACA highlight the complex interplay between federal authority, taxation, and individual rights.