HearTheNine.org features nine stories for the nine Supreme Court justices set to rule on the Affordable Care Act this year.
Washington, D.C. — Nine Supreme Court justices hold the fate of millions of Americans’ access to affordable health care in their hands. The impact of their ruling is highlighted through a personal story from Georgia released today by the Center for American Progress. The Georgia story is one of the final three in a series of nine, corresponding to the nine justices and highlighting the real-life impacts of King v. Burwell, a Supreme Court case regarding tax credits for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, and the most recent effort by conservatives to use the Court against the ACA. The consequences of a ruling against the ACA could have devastating effects for people such as Vaughn Alvarez of Atlanta, who would not have been able to change jobs if not for tax credits that made his health insurance affordable. All nine stories, as well as a new video being released today, can be found at HearTheNine.org.
At age 26, Vaughn wanted to make a career change, but leaving the federal government meant the cost of his health insurance would jump. The small public relations firm he wanted to move to did not offer health insurance, so Vaughn turned to the marketplace, where a platinum plan now costs Vaughn $80 per month after tax credits.
“I signed up on the marketplace and it was easy,” Vaughn said. “If you have a social media account, you can sign up for health insurance. It’s important to me to stay healthy. Whether that means getting my annual wellness exam or getting tested for National HIV Testing Day, I can do that thanks to the Affordable Care Act.”
Conservatives have been trying for years to undermine and repeal the Affordable Care Act. Since they have been unable to do it legislatively, they “recruited [the Supreme Court] into the front lines of a partisan war.” A decision in favor of the plaintiffs would have devastating consequences for the nation’s health care system. Millions of Americans have signed up for and are benefiting from health care under the Affordable Care Act, from saving money on premiums and care to simply having access they did not have before. In many cases, the Affordable Care Act has saved lives.
“Over the course of the past three weeks, we have seen story after story of the Affordable Care Act helping ordinary, hardworking Americans get access to coverage,” said Michele Jawando, Vice President for Legal Progress at the Center for American Progress. “Two years ago, the Supreme Court ruled favorably on hypothetical outcomes of the Affordable Care Act, but the actions of these justices this year will have immediate consequences for real people. The ACA is working, as evidenced by the more than 11 million Americans who signed up or re-enrolled during this open enrollment period, and many of whom would lose tax credits if the Court rules against the ACA.”
Unlike two years ago, when the Supreme Court ruled before the marketplaces were in effect, the Court’s decision on King v. Burwell will have immediate real-world consequences. More than 11 million people signed up or re-enrolled in the open enrollment period that closed Sunday, and millions more have benefitted from Medicaid expansion in their states. Through King v. Burwell, conservative opposition to the Affordable Care Act is attempting to undermine the law through a key clause that clearly states that tax credits for insurance will be available across all 50 states for low-income Americans. Over the past three weeks, CAP has released nine stories to match the nine Supreme Court justices, who will hear oral arguments on March 4. The stories and video can be found at HearTheNine.org.
For more information, contact Benton Strong at [email protected] or 202.481.8142.
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