The (2018) case of Texas v. The United States the Supreme Court will decide whether the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is constitutional. With Amy Coney Barrett being confirmed as the newest Supreme Court Justice on Oct. 27, the healthcare plan may be in danger.
President Donald Trump nominated Barrett on Sept. 26 and she was approved by the Senate on Oct. 26 by a vote of 52-48. Barrett fills the vacancy of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to solidify a strong conservative presence of 6-3 on the court.
The New York Times reported Barrett supported an ad for overturning Roe v. Wade; highlighting her bias towards conservative ideals. With the Affordable Care Act being in the spotlight; many Americans could see a change in their healthcare. “My judicial appointments will do the right thing, unlike (President) Bush’s appointee John Roberts on Obamacare,” Trump said.
Trump changed his tone at the (Oct. 15) NBC News town hall, saying that he did not want to influence his nominee in any way. Trump also said those opposed to getting rid of the Affordable Care Act will always protect people with preexisting conditions.
Urban Institute who researches economics and social policy says with no plan ready to replace the ACA, a full repeal could leave a large portion of the population with less affordable healthcare, including people with preexisting conditions.
This is not the time to remove the Affordable Care Act, which has benefited many people and is definitely a step in the right direction. Though it still is not perfect, repealing it would set those who need it most up for a financial and health nightmare.
An October Center for American Progress analysis shows 21 million working-age people of color have a medical condition that puts them at higher risk for severe illness due to COVID-19. People of color are also more likely to be front-line workers in the pandemic, Urban Institute said.
COVID-19 is considered a preexisting condition. And with it still not under control; the repeal could hurt Americans severely– especially people of color.
CAP analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed 16 percent of Black people, 20 percent of Hispanic people, 19 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native people, and 18 percent of Asian Americans were unable to see a doctor in 2018 due to cost and only 10 percent of their white counterparts were also unable to see a doctor, Urban Institute said.
The Los Angeles Times sourced Chicago Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady who said in April only 30% of the city is black however they have more than half of COVID-19 cases along with over 72% of deaths.
Senate Republicans were opposed to the idea of filling a vacancy near an election in 2016 after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. In fact, only hours after the announcement of his death, Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell said that any appointment by President Barack Obama would be null and void, a story on npr.org said.
Despite it causing gridlock in the court due to only having eight justices and being split down the middle, Mcconnell said looking Obama in his eyes and telling him he would not fill the Supreme Court vacancy was one of his proudest moments, said npr.org in a story on the nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court in 2016.
Trump was able to dictate who decides law in our highest court. While the Senate rejected nominations from President Obama in 2016.
President Trump appointed Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. However, the Senate has decided they no longer wanted to wait to see who the next president will be and instead allow a now one-term president to make decisions for a country that no longer wants him as their leader.
With Joseph Biden becoming president-elect, the confirmation of Barrett into the Supreme Court is disgraceful. Barring any massive discovery of voter fraud as President Trump has claimed, yet has provided no evidence.
The potential consequences of an incumbent president who did not win reelection choosing who decides law in our country instead of having a leader who represents the current climate of America is disheartening. Now there may be long-term consequences if the court repeals the Affordable Care Act.
