Supreme Court Upholds Obamacare’s Preventive Care Mandate/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Supreme Court upheld a central Affordable Care Act rule requiring insurance to cover preventive care, rejecting a constitutional challenge from Christian employers. The 6-3 decision protects coverage for services like HIV prevention and cancer screenings. The ruling secures benefits for about 150 million Americans under Obamacare.
SCOTUS Obamacare Ruling + Quick Looks
- Key ACA provision saved: Preventive care coverage remains mandatory.
- Challenge rejected: Christian employers argued process violated Constitution.
- Millions affected: 150 million Americans rely on these services.
- Trump administration defended law: Despite Trump’s criticism of Obamacare.
- Future services secured: Includes HIV prevention, cancer screenings, statins.
Supreme Court Upholds Obamacare’s Preventive Care Mandate
Deep Look
SUPREME COURT PRESERVES PREVENTIVE CARE MANDATE UNDER OBAMACARE
The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a critical part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), ensuring that private health insurance must continue covering preventive care services for millions of Americans at no additional cost.
In a 6-3 decision, the court rejected a constitutional challenge from Christian employers who claimed the process determining these coverage requirements violates the U.S. Constitution.
THE CHALLENGE TO OBAMACARE’S PREVENTIVE CARE RULES
At the center of the dispute was the United States Preventive Services Task Force, a volunteer panel of medical experts that recommends which preventive services and medications insurers must cover without copays or deductibles.
The plaintiffs argued that the task force’s recommendations are unconstitutional because its members aren’t nominated by the president or confirmed by the Senate.
Services potentially affected by the lawsuit included statins to lower cholesterol, lung cancer screenings, HIV-prevention drugs, and medications to reduce breast cancer risk in women.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DEFENDED THE MANDATE
Interestingly, the case saw President Donald Trump’s administration defending the ACA’s mandate, despite Trump’s long-standing criticism of Obamacare.
The Justice Department contended that task force members don’t require Senate confirmation because they serve under the Health and Human Services Secretary, who has the power to remove them.
LOWER COURT HAD STRUCK DOWN PARTS OF THE RULE
The legal challenge arose after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the ACA provision, siding with Christian employers and Texas residents who said they shouldn’t be forced to fund insurance coverage for services they morally oppose, such as HIV prevention medication and certain cancer screenings.
CONSERVATIVE LEGAL STAR INVOLVED
Notably, the employers were represented by Jonathan Mitchell, a prominent conservative attorney who previously argued before the Supreme Court in a high-profile case over whether Donald Trump could appear on the 2024 ballot.
HIGH STAKES FOR MILLIONS
Had the plaintiffs prevailed, the ruling could have stripped away free coverage for vital services affecting an estimated 150 million Americans.
A 2023 report from the nonprofit KFF found that even if parts of the mandate were struck down, other services like mammograms and cervical cancer screenings would still remain protected under separate ACA provisions.
Friday’s ruling preserves a core promise of Obamacare—that preventive health care stays accessible and affordable for Americans regardless of income.
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