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U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Obamacare

The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA) affirms that the law is here to stay and that this country will continue to move forward to implement the law.  For working families, the ruling means:

  • Kids with pre-existing conditions will not be denied coverage and, in 2014, neither will adults;
  • Insurance companies cannot drop you when you get sick;
  • Insurance companies will not be able to charge women more for insurance than men are charged;
  • 6.6 million kids, half with no other coverage option, will be able to remain on their parent’s health plan;
  • Millions of seniors will be able to continue to get free cancer screenings and other preventive care;
  • 5.3 million seniors with high drug costs will continue to get extra help with these costs;
  • Millions will receive annual rebates because their insurance companies spent too much of their premium on administrative costs and CEO bonuses;
  • Premium increases will be reined in for everyone, as the number of uninsured is reduced.

Somewhat unexpectedly, the Court ruled that states can choose not to expand their Medicaid programs, a provision which is aimed at providing coverage to those with the lowest incomes.  A handful of governors have indicated that they will not expand their Medicaid programs.  These states are MS, LA, SC, TX and FL.  Several other states have indicated that they are reviewing the law and may decide not to expand Medicaid, including WI, NJ, VA and GA.

Despite the initial resistance from some governors, it is likely that, ultimately, most states will implement this provision just as they chose to implement the original Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.  The Medicaid expansion is 100% fully funded by the federal government initially and, over the long run, states will only pay 10% of the cost.  The expansion is a bargain for states and elected officials will likely realize that the deal is too good to pass up.

The enactment of the Affordable Care Act was an historic achievement.  And AFSCME members were there every step of the way, providing the grassroots support needed to get the law passed by Congress.  And since its enactment, AFSCME members have worked to protect it from those who want to tear it down.  Because of the ruling on Medicaid, there is more work to be done in the states.   AFSCME members will no doubt be pushing to ensure that states expand their Medicaid programs to provide coverage to those with the lowest incomes.