Appeals court strikes health insurance requirement

By GREG BLUESTEIN

ATLANTA

A federal appeals panel's ruling striking down the centerpiece of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul moves the question of whether Americans can be required to buy health insurance a step closer to the U.S. Supreme Court.

A divided three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that Congress overstepped its authority when lawmakers passed the so-called individual mandate.

Many experts agree the requirement that Americans carry health insurance -- or face tax penalties -- is the foundation for other parts of the law and key to paying for it.

Legal observers long expected the case would ultimately land in the high court, but experts said Friday's ruling could finally force the justices to take the case.

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Associated Press Writer Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar in Washington contributed to this report.

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