New York Times reported yesterday the ruling of the Supreme Court on Thursday that allows President Obama’s health care law to enable the federal government to provide nationwide tax subsidies to help poor and middle-class people buy health insurance, a sweeping vindication that endorsed the larger purpose of Mr. Obama’s signature legislative achievement.
The 6-to-3 ruling means that it is almost certain that the Affordable Care Act will survive after Obama leaves office in 2017. For the second time in three years, the law survived an encounter with the Supreme Court.
“Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote for a united six-justice majority. In 2012’s closely divided decision, Chief Justice Roberts also wrote the controlling opinion, but that time no other justice joined it in full.
“I am nervous about the Supreme Court decision, very nervous,” said Charles R. Drapeau, 63, of East Waterboro, Me prior to the announcement. Mr. Drapeau has multiple myeloma, a blood cancer, and can only afford the medication through health care purchased through the federal exchange according to the report.
On Thursday, Demonstrators expressed their support for the Affordable Care Act outside of the Supreme Court!
