Posts tagged ‘Supreme Court’
Supreme!
The Supreme Court moved the arc towards justice and fair access to health care a bit closer with its decision in King v. Burwell (6/25/2015). The 6-3 decision, written by Chief Justice Roberts, sends a clear message that the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land.
As Justice Roberts stated, the intent of the Affordable Care Act is to build up, not diminish health insurance market places. Further, basic legal process calls for statutory provisions to be read to meet the overall intent of the law. This is not legal over-reach; it’s a standard taught in first-year law school. In King v. Burwell this long-accepted legal analysis results in the Court’s conclusion that subsidies to help people pay for health insurance are available in all Affordable Care Act markets, whether they are established by the individual state or federal government.
The Supreme Court followed basic legal analysis to support a basic human right – access to health care.
Now it’s our turn to make it happen.
Corporations Don’t Bleed
Too often people with low and moderate incomes fail to get the health coverage they need. Women are frequently harmed the most. In addition to their own health concerns, they are usually the gender responsible for family-planning and family care-taking.
The Supreme Court’s decision in Hobby Lobby reduces women’s rights and erodes women’s access to health care. In Hobby Lobby, the Court found that “closely held” corporations needn’t provide health insurance for their employees if it would violate their religious beliefs Incredibly, the decision advances corporate rights over women’s rights. And it advances the notion that corporations are people too – with religious beliefs!
Corporations don’t bleed; they don’t get pregnant; they don’t take care of children and parents. Women do.
Congress: Take action. Reconsider the Religious Freedom Restoration Act at the heart of the Hobby Lobby decision.
Women, Men, people who bleed, get sick, and take care of others who do: Speak out against this injustice.
We All Lose – If The Supreme Court Strikes Down Health Reform
Millions of people will be left with limited or no access to health care if the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is overturned. This will include people of all ages − older and disabled people with Medicare, middle class families, children with asthma and other pre-existing conditions, and adults with on-going medical needs. At this time, when family incomes are stretched to the max, many people are unemployed, and fewer jobs provide health insurance, individuals and families all over the country will lose if the Court strikes down Health Care Reform.
Older and disabled people with Medicare will lose access to preventive health care, help paying for life-saving medications, and an annual health visit. Taxpayers will resume overpayments to private Medicare plans. Children with preexisting conditions will again be subject to discrimination by private health insurance companies. People who would have gained access to coverage under ACA, beginning in 2014, will lose out. This includes adults with pre-existing conditions, those with high out-of-pocket costs, and families with moderate incomes. Young adults who, thanks to ACA, have health coverage under their parents’ plans will also be in jeopardy.
In short, if the Court strikes down the law we all lose. The number of people with inadequate or no health insurance will rise – but those same people will still get sick and injured, and require care. And we will all pay, in emergency rooms, unpaid hospital bills, higher premiums – or simply by catching their illnesses.
Let’s hope the Supreme Court recognizes the national interest in making basic health insurance available to all. If it does, we will all feel better.
CMA Health Policy Blog 