For Immediate Release
06/17/2021
Contact: David Card
202.408.9514 x122
[email protected]
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected another challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in a 7-2 ruling. The case, Texas v. California, is the third time the Court has ruled in favor of the Obama-era healthcare legislation.
“This is a huge victory for people with disabilities,” said NDRN Executive Director Curt Decker. “Without the Affordable Care Act, many people with disabilities could never find health care on the open market or faced annual and lifetime coverage caps, putting them at risk of institutionalization, poverty, and even death.”
Today’s ruling underscores the importance of healthcare as a basic human right that impacts the wellbeing of every individual, family budgets, the economy and our values as Americans. People with disabilities will continue to have access to quality healthcare and long-term home and community-based care through an expansion of the state-run Medicaid system.
The Court’s decision will ensure that health insurance companies cannot deny coverage based on preexisting conditions or discriminate based on an individual’s health status or disability. In addition, millions of young adults under the age of 26 will continue to be covered through market reforms made possible by the ACA, a critical piece of the legislation that supports young people with disabilities and their families.
“Access to good quality, affordable health care is essential for people with disabilities to remain in their own homes in the community,” continued Decker. “The Court’s ruling is a huge relief to everyone who supports independence and community living for people with disabilities. NDRN will continue to build on the success of the Affordable Care Act to ensure affordable, accessible community-based healthcare for all people with disabilities.”
# # #
The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is the nonprofit membership organization for the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) Systems and the Client Assistance Programs (CAP) for individuals with disabilities. Collectively, the Network is the largest provider of legally based advocacy services to people with disabilities in the United States.
