NCL applauds Supreme Court vote to uphold ACA tax credits – National Consumers League
June 25, 2015
Contact: Cindy Hoang, National Consumers League, cindyh@nclnet.org or (202) 207-2832
Washington, DC—The National Consumers League (NCL), the nation’s oldest consumer group, applauds the Supreme Court’s decision (6-3) upholding tax credits under the Affordable Care Act in the case of King v. Burwell. The decision ensures that more than 6 million people will not lose tax credits in states using the federal marketplace that was established under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The challenge to the ACA questioned the legality of health insurance tax credits offered through the more than 30 federally-run health insurance marketplaces, as opposed to marketplaces established by individual states. A ruling for the plaintiffs would have resulted in millions of Americans rendered unable to afford health insurance due to the loss of subsidies and would have caused premiums to skyrocket. Chief Justice Roberts, in finding that the tax subsidies were legal, stated “Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them. If at all possible, we must interpret the Act in a way that is consistent with the former, and avoids the latter.”
NCL Executive Director, Sally Greenberg commented, “The Supreme Court’s decision is an affirmation of intent of Congress in enacting the ACA. This pivotal decision ensures that millions of Americans will continue to be able to afford health insurance, no matter which state they live in. This is another step to toward the goal of providing health insurance for all Americans, a longstanding priority endorsed by NCL founders and early leaders. We should all feel vindicated that Congressional intent is being fulfilled and that the protections and coverage the ACA has provided will continue for millions of Americans.”
NCL stands with other consumer, health, and worker groups in support of the ACA. For decades, NCL has advocated for substantive reform to America’s health care system and was a staunch supporter of the Affordable Care Act when it passed in 2010. Today, we thank the Supreme Court for siding with consumers and workers with this important decision.
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About the National Consumers League
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.
