MILWAUKEE, WI — On November 10, 2020 — one week after the election — the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments in California v. Texas, a case that could overturn the entire Affordable Care Act, including protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions and throw our entire health care system into chaos. Following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Protect Our Care Executive Director Brad Woodhouse issued a statement on the upcoming fight for the future of Americans’ health care access:
“Donald Trump is before the Supreme Court right now trying to strike down the Affordable Care Act in its entirety, including protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. Trying to dismantle the health care law and all the protections it affords to Americans is extremely unpopular with voters, but President Trump was depending on the fact that relatively few voters know about the case. With the national spotlight now on the Supreme Court, President Trump won’t be able to hide behind his health care lies anymore. Voters will know that Donald Trump is fighting to take away protections for people with pre-existing conditions and that he and every Republican on the ballot are trying to rip health care away from millions in the middle of a pandemic. This is a health care election. Period.”
BACKGROUND:
If the Affordable Care Act is struck down:
- GONE: Protections for 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. The uninsured rate will increase by 65 percent.
- GONE: Medicaid expansion, which covers 16 million people.
- GONE: Nearly 12 million seniors will have to pay more for prescription drugs because the Medicare ‘donut hole’ will be reopened.
- GONE: 2.3 million adult children will no longer be able to stay on their parents’ insurance.
- GONE: Insurance companies will be able to charge women 50 percent more than men.
- GONE: Financial assistance that helps 9 million people purchase health care in the marketplace.
- GONE: Key support for rural hospitals. As Americans lose coverage, already struggling hospitals will be hit even harder as their costs increase.
- GONE: Ban on insurance companies having lifetime caps on coverage.
- GONE: Requirements that insurance companies cover prescription drugs and maternity care.
View the full fact sheet on Trump-Republican lawsuit to overturn the ACA HERE.
