Texas District Judge Reed O’Connor, has ruled the Affordable Care Act [ACA] unconstitutional. Ruling it unconstitutional can affect the 20 million Americans that have access to it. These Americans would lose their health coverage, and it would impact those with conditions that need daily special treatment.
O’Connor is a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas. He wrote a 55-page document arguing why the affordable care act is unconstitutional.
ACA is a federally run insurance exchange through which Americans who do not have health insurance can buy it. It also expands Medicaid to millions of low income Americans. The goal of it is to lower the cost of Medicare and Medicaid, and to also make it easier to seek help for medical conditions.
It has been the reason millions of people found a resource to help grant them health coverage. It was enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by former president Barack Obama on March 23, 2010.
The ruling was made a day before the Saturday deadline to sign up for ACA coverage in 2019 was over. It is expected to be appealed, and for now it will not have an impact on people who buy insurance through state or federal marketplaces. If the ruling is upheld it will impact Americans and the way they get health insurance.
“Wow, but not surprisingly, ObamaCare was just ruled UNCONSTITUTIONAL by a highly respected judge in Texas. Great news for America!” President Donald Trump tweeted Friday afternoon.
The ruling might seem to be a victory for those who want ACA gone, but the possible negative impacts could result in the ruling facing legal challenges.
As of now ACA remains intact despite the Judge’s recent decision. It could possibly take years for O’Connors decision to go through the court system and to be rendered a final decision.
