NLIRH Condemns Judge’s ACA Health Care Decision

Washington, D.C.— The United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas has ruled the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional in the case of Texas v. Azar. In February 2018, the Attorney General of Texas and 19 other states filed this suit and argued that the removal of the ACA’s individual mandate tax penalty, set to go into effect in 2019, invalidates the entirety of the ACA. The Trump-Pence Administration could have decided to uphold the critical health care law in court, but instead refused, threatening coverage and care for millions living in the United States.

This decision has no immediate effect on the law or on the protections individuals receive under the law. The ACA is still law of the land and individuals are still eligible for health insurance coverage. If this ruling is not overturned and applied nationally, it places the health coverage of 20 million individuals in limbo and should be reversed immediately. This ruling, which will continue to move through the court system, will jeopardize the protections for people living with pre-existing conditions, Medicaid expansion covering 15 million individuals, and other critical pieces of the law that support access to reproductive health care services, like cervical cancer screenings.

Nina Esperanza Serrianne, policy analyst at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, issued the following statement:

“This decision is an attack on health care coverage and services, particularly for communities of color. The ACA has provided essential coverage for individuals, including reproductive health care services. Over four million Latinxs have gained health care coverage through the ACA, including access to preventive health services without cost sharing, cervical cancer screenings, and contraception. Still, the Latinx community remains the most uninsured ethnic group in the nation. We cannot afford our access to quality, affordable health care coverage to be jeopardized.

Despite these confusing headlines, it is incredibly important that people know they can still sign up for insurance today at HealthCare.gov. The ACA is still law of the land and this ruling is not the final say in this matter. If you are uninsured and considering enrolling in coverage, you should still explore your options before the deadline today.

NLIRH continues to stand against any attempt to roll back the ACA. We condemn this decision and the additional barriers it would create for the health, safety, and well-being of the Latinx community. We demand this decision be overturned.”

For more information on NLIRH’s fight for health, dignity and justice, visit us at latinainstitute.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @NLIRH.

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The National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health is the only national reproductive justice organization dedicated to building Latina power to advance health, dignity, and justice for 28 million Latinas, their families, and communities in the United States through leadership development, community mobilization, policy advocacy, and strategic communications.