The Lawsuit that could Eliminate Healthcare Subsidies for 13 Million Americans

Monday, November 24, 2014
(graphic: Steve Straehley, AllGov)

Opponents of Obamacare are hoping to strike a major victory before the U.S. Supreme Court next year over the issue of federal subsidies for health coverage. The losers would be 13 million Americans.

 

The case, King v. Burwell, is challenging the provision in the Affordable Care Act that allows the federal government to provide financial assistance to people who buy insurance through the 37 state insurance exchanges operated by the federal government.

 

If the plaintiffs are successful, the court’s decision could eliminate these subsidies, which currently help 13 million people afford their coverage.

 

“Of the 37 states affected, several would probably scramble to establish minimal state-run exchanges to retain eligibility for tax credits for residents, particularly if the federal government makes back-end exchange technology available,” Drew Altman wrote at The Wall Street Journal.

 

The five biggest states without their own exchanges—Florida, Texas, North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania—have almost 7 million people on insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Of those, Pennsylvania, which just elected a Democratic governor to replace a Republican opponent of Obamacare, will probably set up an exchange for the 736,178 currently being served under federal auspices.

 

The case doesn’t affect anyone insured through an exchange run by their state.

- Steve Straehley, Noel Brinkerhoff

 

To Learn More:

How 13 Million Americans Could Lose Insurance Subsidies (by Drew Altman, Wall Street Journal)

Map: How Many Americans Could Lose Subsidies If the Supreme Court Rules for the Plaintiffs in King vs. Burwell? (Kaiser Family Foundation)

King v. Burwell (Supreme Court of the United States Blog)

Non-Existent Computer Program Leaves a Million Obamacare Enrollment Discrepancies to be Resolved by Hand (by Steve Straehley, AllGov)

Rejecting Expansion of Medicaid, Republican Governors Prevent Insurance for “Poorest of the Poor” (by Matt Bewig, AllGov)

Comments

Jeremy Engdahl-Johnson 10 years ago
What implications exist for policyholders and insurance companies concerning the ACA reenrollment process? More here: http://www.healthcaretownhall.com/?p=7512#sthash.j4l8ojFk.dpbs

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