WASHINGTON—The National Health Law Program (NHeLP) released the following statement in reaction to the Supreme Court’s ruling in King v. Burwell, the case challenging the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits and subsidies in the federal Marketplace.
“Today’s ruling is a vindication of the Affordable Care Act, which has been subjected to countless attacks in the courts and in Congress,” said Elizabeth G. Taylor, NHeLP executive director. “As we have said before, the law is plainly on the ACA’s side and today the Supreme Court has agreed.”
In a 6-3 decision, the Court upheld the availability of the ACA’s tax credits and subsidies in all Marketplaces, regardless of whether they are set up by the state or federal government. Challengers argued, and the Court disagreed, that the law’s financial assistance is only available to state-run Marketplaces, which is contrary to the text and structure of the ACA and Congress’ express purpose.
“More than eight million Americans can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that the law – not ideology – carried the day,” said Jane Perkins, NHeLP legal director.
NHeLP, in partnership with AARP, filed an amicus brief in King supporting the availability of the ACA’s tax credits in all Marketplaces. The brief focused on the importance of the ACA to pre-Medicare older adults, and detailed how the availability of tax credits is crucial to achieving the ACA’s mission of providing near-universal health care coverage.
NHeLP is reviewing today’s decision and will provide full analysis in the coming days.
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