A record-breaking 31 million Americans enrolled in Obamacare, the Department of Health and Human Services said in a report on Saturday (June 5). The high levels of enrollment highlight the law’s importance, though it faces uncertainty as the Supreme Court deliberates its future.
When he came into office, President Joe Biden signed an order to create an “open enrollment” period and extension through August. COVID-19 relief funding also provided additional financial assistance for families through the program.
According to the Huffington Post, the Supreme Court case California v. Texas is the third case in a longtime Republican effort to end the Affordable Care Act. The case, while legal experts say is weak, is challenging the constitutionality of the legislation and could threaten medical coverage for millions in the nation.
Between 2020 and 2021, an additional four million people enrolled for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, with 14.8 million gaining coverage through Medicaid expansion law enacted in December. The report also noted that one million people enrolled in the Affordable Care Act's Basic Health Program which provides coverage to people who earn slightly above the threshold to qualify for Medicaid and some immigrants, too.
The Supreme Court could bring their decision as early as Monday (June 7) or sometime in the next few weeks. The justices expressed their doubts in the merit of this latest case at the start, leading many experts to believe the law would be safe, though it’s not certain given the new makeup of the high court.
Biden and Democrats are reportedly working to safeguard medical coverage for Americans and truly make healthcare a right through negotiations on adding hearing and dental coverage to Medicare, lowering the age of coverage, and providing coverage for low-income people in states that haven’t expanded Medicaid.
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