Last week’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a significant step toward ensuring universal coverage for all. The Court’s 7-2 decision means the 31 million people currently covered under the ACA will continue to have access to the care they need and deserve. Several healthcare payers issued statements on the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in California vs. Texas, the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
- Massive health coverage: “We are pleased with today’s decision dismissing the challenge to the Affordable Care Act. The ACA has made health care more accessible by providing 31 million people health care coverage. Right now, 90% of Americans have health coverage through their jobs, the individual market, Medicare and Medicaid”, said BCBS CEO Kim. , “As we’ve seen throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever that everyone has access to affordable health care, no matter who you are, where you live, or what your health condition may be. It’s time to build on what we have to make our health care system more affordable and equitable to work better for everyone.”
- Access to healthcare: “We believe the Supreme Court rightly concluded this case does not belong in the court, as the challengers have not suffered any injury. The ACA remains the law of the land and a foundational component of health care and coverage for more than 300 million Americans. After a year filled with unprecedented loss when reliable comprehensive health coverage has never been more important, this decision protects the stability of health coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, hardworking families, seniors, and other Americans who need it most”, said Matt Eyles, President, and CEO of AHIP.
- Cementing health gaps: “With this legal challenge behind us, I am thrilled we can focus on the future and move forward together. Now, Congress should act to permanently extend the ACA subsidies that make health coverage more affordable for millions of Americans. At Blue Shield of California, we strongly believe in everyone’s right to high-quality, affordable care We have been a vocal supporter and a fierce advocate of the ACA since its inception, and we will continue to support health care policies that align with our vision of creating a healthcare system that is worthy of our family and friends and sustainably affordable for everyone”, said Paul Markovich, President and CEO of Blue Shield of California.
- Impact: In a January 2020 amicus brief, five leading hospital groups referred to “the catastrophic consequences that would follow from judicial repeal of the ACA. It would cause millions of Americans to lose their health coverage, inflicting on them all the harms that come with being uninsured. Low-income families, those least able to cope with these harms, would be hardest hit,” the groups wrote.
- Commercial health insurance platform: The ACA represents an expansion of the commercial insurance market (and of Medicaid). Provider groups generally prefer that approach to the prospect of a large expansion of government-sponsored insurance, which likely would usher in lower payment rates and make sustainability of operations a more pressing concern. The ACA’s coverage expansion was funded in part by reductions to annual increases in Medicare payments to providers.