We are pleased that the Supreme Court decided to protect the current and future health insurance of millions of Americans in today’s King v. Burwell decision. Three years after the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act as the law of the land, we are grateful the court once again dismissed this latest ill-advised attempt to undermine the law, by protecting health coverage for 6.4 million enrollees, who will retain access to tax credit subsidies that make coverage possible.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Without access to these subsidies, people aged 50-64, who were economically devastated by the Great Recession, would be even more financially insecure. The ACA subsidies are already helping ensure that this population is able to age into Medicare with stable health coverage. Prior to the ACA, 14% of this group was uninsured. The ACA has cut the number of uninsured people aged 50-64 nearly in half. Nearly three million people in this age group purchase health insurance through ACA marketplace plans and receive stable coverage before enrolling in Medicare. Before the ACA, many were barely hanging on, dipping into retirement savings or falling into bankruptcy to cover expenses before they became eligible for Medicare.
Thanks to the ACA, and today’s decision, these individuals will retain their health care coverage and age into Medicare financially stronger and with more piece of mind. In addition to providing affordable health care coverage to this group, ACA has been a boon to low-income older adults of all ages. The act has made free preventative screenings available to Medicare recipients, increased opportunities for seniors to receive long term services and supports at home, and saved seniors money on prescription drugs. Read our previous blog, Better Today because of ACA, to learn more. This likely won’t be the last challenge to Obama’s landmark health reform law, and we must continue to fight for expanded access to health care for all, but for now we celebrate.
