i just couldn't understand why this would happen. >> mcfarland: after four months in the nicu, a.j.as ready to go home. but his recovery was far from over. >> he developed slower than full-term children. he had extensive physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy just to make sure that he had every opportunity to catch up. and now he's six, and it's-- i'm now seeing his personality. i'm now seeing him. he likes to sing. he likes to dance. you know, he likes to play instruments. and it's amazing because his vocabulary took a long time. >> mcfarland: a.j.'s a happy, healthy six-year-old today. but the odds were against him when he was born. >> there are some babies that survive at 23 weeks, but these are pretty uncommon. it's usually about 24 weeks where we're talking about a realistic chance. but even at that point, when the baby's 3 1/2 months premature, there are a lot of risks. the survival is certainly not guaranteed. and there are many complications that the babies can have, both short-term and long-term. by 28 weeks, that risk does drop significantly, but it's still

coming from a family of pediatricians when you see the baby arrive in the nicu it is a miracle what weo there. but you it is cheaper to provide prenatal care in the first place. we are in a system where there is an integration with the health system different from other areas. >> shannon: advocates on the other side say it is not legitimate to say somebody would show up in the emergency room and not be treated. that wouldn't happen. doctors are obligated to save a life if it is a leaf or death situation. >> i agree that and say because they continue to pay for the person where does the cost go. $57 billion a year get dumped on the people paying for their premiums. that is not fair either. the idea of a minimum amount of care and responsibility for people to take over their own health situation or pay that tax or fine is something that is well within the tradition of policy and there is a reason that this initially came as an idea from conservative think tanks and not liberal which is that the basic idea of personal responsibility is something that i know from my conservative district p