Supreme Court Arguments Completed in King v. Burwell

On March 4,the Supreme Court heard arguments in King v. Burwell, a case examining the legality of health insurance subsidies for Americans using the federal exchange created through the Affordable Care Act. 

In this case, the Supreme Court will be examining language making tax credits available for Americans who enroll “through an exchange established by the state” and whether that can apply to the subsidies nationally.  If the court rules against the subsidies, more than 6 million Americans may be impacted, and the Affordable Care Act itself would be threatened.  It is expected that the Supreme Court will not make a decision in this case until at least May or June.

In 2012, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act by a 5 to 4 vote.  The King v. Burwell case is focused on the interpretation of the law.