Supreme Court upholds healthcare subsidies

WASHINGTON — In a major victory for the administration of President Barack Obama, the Supreme Court issued on Thursday a 6-3 decision in King v. Burwell, upholding tax credits to help lower income individuals and families buy health insurance.



The tax credits have already helped more than 6 million people obtain health insurance in the 34 states with federally facilitated insurance exchanges.



“Congress passed the Affordable Care Act to improve health insurance markets, not to destroy them,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in delivering the opinion of the Court. “If at all possible, we must interpret the Act in a way that is consistent with the former, and avoids the latter.”



Responding the ruling, Congressman Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., issued a statement that read: “Today's decision is a victory for America, for families and children across our great nation, and for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The highest court in the land has now ruled — for the second time — to uphold one of the major tenets of this law. As a result of this historic decision, any individual, in any state, will have access to quality, affordable health insurance. This is a proud moment for me, and for all of my colleagues who worked tirelessly to push this legislation to passage and who have continued our efforts to ensure that its implementation is successful.”



Click here to read the entire ruling.