Helping the Supreme Court decide King v. Burwell

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court elected to hear the King v. Burwell case in order to decide a question being raised about the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The question is whether or not the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) can make federal insurance premium subsidy payments under the ACA if the insurance was purchased through the federal health insurance marketplace rather than through a health insurance marketplace operated directly by a state. The consequences of this decision will be very far-reaching, since 37 of the state health insurance marketplaces currently are operated by HHS.

Clearly, we very strongly support the principle that HHS does indeed have the authority under the ACA to pay these premium subsidies. To decide the contrary would be to throw the entire ACA insurance system into national chaos. Up to this point, more than 80% of persons who have enrolled in marketplace health insurance are receiving a tax subsidy, and the majority of these persons would be adversely affected by such a decision.

However, the issue is not just a legal one; it also is a human concern. Below, we present three actual first-person accounts that show how both the health insurance and the premium subsidy have had far-reaching positive personal consequences. (A very special thanks to Sita Deal at NAMI and Theresa, Allie, and Kevin, who not only have agreed to tell their personal stories, but also have agreed to be identified.)    

Theresa’s Story

 “I applied for insurance online through the marketplace.  During the online application I became confused and called it: the customer service rep. walked me through the rest of steps.  She was great. Since having insurance I was able to be hospitalized and receive the intense mental health treatment that I needed without the burden of a huge hospital bill.  I am now able to see my psychiatrist, dietician,  and a therapist at an affordable price.  I am also on the medications that I need to be on: ones that are effective for a total of $20 a month instead of over $300.  The marketplace impacted my life in the way it gave me my life back.  I have been able to receive the mental health care I need to be proactive in recovery and lessened the financial burden on myself.  I've been able to seek help and afford to live independently.”

Threasa J Kluever
Aurora, Illinois

Allie’s Story

“I just came from under my parent's insurance because I turned 26. Their insurance literally saved my life due to hospital stays and therapy treatment for severe depression. I still suffer from depression, though not as severe, and knowing that the affordable care act gives me visits to therapists at little cost to me gives me one less thing to stress about as a student. It's really amazing how much this has helped me.”

Allie Groves
Cheney, Washington

Kevin’s Story

 “I lost my job in May.  There was no way I could afford COBRA coverage (which would have been about $900 a month) without a job.  But without insurance, I would have had to go off of medications for asthma and ADHD, and try to pay out of pocket for mental health therapy for PTSD at $130 per weekly session.  I was able to get a plan through the marketplace at a price I can afford that allows me to continue my medical and mental health treatment, and I have been going back to college to get a degree with better job stability.  I would not have been successful in my classes without mental health treatment, including medication!  I really don't know where I'd be right now if I hadn't been able to obtain affordable health care after losing my job.”

Kevin Thomas Kirkpatrick
Fresno, California

These personal stories should energize each of us to be unequivocal and clear in our support of the ACA. We also should support federal premium subsidies paid to those who received their health insurance through the health insurance marketplace operated by HHS.

I urge you to visible, vocal, and vociferous in your support of the ACA as the Supreme Court takes up the King v. Burwell case. Social justice and good human values demand nothing less of each of us.