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 Nebraska released today by the Center for American Progress. The Nebraska 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 Lisa Good, who went for years without coverage after losing her job at age 50. All nine stories, as well as a new video being released today, can be found at HearTheNine.org.
Lisa Good used her COBRA health insurance for as long as the law would allow after losing her job, but when she eventually found a new job that paid significantly less than her previous one, the new cost for coverage was too much. But six years later, Lisa found a coverage option through the marketplace that cost just $24 per month after tax credits. This year, she re-enrolled for just $33 per month.
“I was living paycheck to paycheck and not making ends meet,” Good said. “I didn’t even feel like a valued member of society anymore. The Affordable Care Act has made me feel like a real American—like I mattered and belonged. I’m grateful it will help keep me healthy and out of bankruptcy, should anything happen.”
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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