 |
| Today, we celebrate an important victory for access to health care for low-income older adults: The Supreme Court reaffirmed that the Affordable Care Act is here to stay. In a 7-2 ruling in California v. Texas, the Court held that neither the states nor the individual plaintiffs have standing to challenge the constitutionality of the ACA’s minimum essential coverage provision. After more than 10 years since enactment, the ACA has achieved much to be celebrated. It has saved the lives of over 19,200 older adults on expanded Medicaid; ensured seniors and people with disabilities have more opportunities to age in place and live at home, in their communities, where they want to be; enhanced Medicare enrollees’ access to preventive services and prescription drugs; and created a new avenue for enforcing civil rights. Today, older adults and their families who are part of the 133 million people with pre-existing conditions and 15 million individuals enrolled in expanded Medicaid can live without fear of losing coverage. And we can continue to build on the progress we have made using the ACA’s tools to enhance care coordination and consumer protections for Medicare and Medicaid enrollees, end discrimination and eliminate health disparities, and achieve Justice in Aging for all. Read our amicus brief in California v. Texas and our issue brief on how the ACA has enhanced access to quality health care for low-income older adults. |