Deltek Analyst Amanda White reports.
Today marks the last day of oral arguments in the Supreme Court’s ruling on health reform. Today’s arguments will involve a discussion on the theory of “severability,” which is the idea that if one element of the law is deemed unconstitutional, then all parts under it should be struck down as well. Under this concept, if the courts deem the individual mandate as unconstitutional, then two provisions under the health care law would have to go as well. This would prohibit insurance companies from 1) not selling health plans to individuals with pre-existing conditions and 2) charging higher premiums to individuals with illnesses.
Today’s session will also look at whether the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Medicaid program expansion for the poor unfairly forces states to participate. Under the current Medicaid program, individuals cannot sign up for plans on the basis of being poor alone; they must also fall under categories such as being pregnant, a child, or over the age of 65. With the new health care law, individuals four times the poverty line would be able to benefit from Medicaid, which is expected to enroll an additional 17 million individuals.
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