Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel hailed Thursday’s ruling in California v. Texas, known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Repeal Lawsuit, as a victory for the health and wellbeing of every single American.
In Thursday’s decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the plaintiffs in this case did not have standing to challenge the ACA. This favorable ruling means the patient protections, affordability measures, coverage expansions, and market reforms that millions of Americans rely on will remain in place. The California Department of Justice led a nationwide bipartisan coalition in defense of the ACA, which is the backbone of the American healthcare system.
“I am proud to be among the 20 attorneys general who fought to defend the Affordable Care Act and applaud this ruling alongside the millions of people who have worried about their benefits being stripped away,” Nessel said. “This decision from the United States Supreme Court rejecting the challenge to the ACA ensures the Act remains in place to protect the health and lives of millions of Americans by providing coverage and access to comprehensive treatments. In Michigan, that includes more than 1.7 million people with pre-existing conditions, more than 900,000 covered through Medicaid expansion, and more than 70,000 young adults on their parents’ coverage.”
Thursday’s Supreme Court decision makes clear that the entirety of the ACA is lawful, and continues to stand. As a result, today’s ruling is a step forward for millions of Americans and Californians that rely on the ACA for their care.
Thursday’s ruling means the healthcare of millions will remain protected, saving the United States between $150 billion and $350 billion over the next decade. The ruling also protects:
• Over 20 million Americans who are able to afford insurance either through Medicaid expansion or tax credits and employer-sponsored plans through healthcare exchanges, such as Covered California.
• 133 million Americans, including 17 million children, who have pre-existing health conditions and benefit from the law’s guaranteed coverage and protection against discrimination and higher costs based on their health status.
• Families of children with chronic health conditions who are protected from lifetime insurance limits.
• Anyone under the age of 26 who can remain on their parent’s health insurance plan.
Nessel joined the fight to defend the ACA alongside the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota (by and through its Department of Commerce), Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, the District of Columbia, and the Governor of Kentucky.
