Washington, D.C., (December 19, 2019) — Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit issued their ruling in Texas v. United States, striking down the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate and remanding back to the district court the decision as to whether key patient protections will remain in the future. In response, more than 25 patient groups issued the following statement:
“It is important for patients and consumers to understand that the current law remains in place as the case awaits further action by the courts. Protections for millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions stay in place, people who have purchased healthcare for 2020 from healthcare.gov will remain covered, and the millions of Americans who have coverage through Medicaid expansion will also remain covered.
“At the same time, our organizations are deeply disappointed that the 5th Circuit Court did not definitively uphold the remainder of the Affordable Care Act, leaving open the possibility that millions of people with pre-existing conditions will one day find themselves without access to the Affordable Care Act’s important protections.”
“Our organizations will continue to argue the urgent need for the Affordable Care Act to remain the law of the land.”
- ALS Association
- American Diabetes Association
- American Heart Association
- American Liver Foundation
- American Lung Association
- Arthritis Foundation
- Crohn's & Colitis Foundation
- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
- Epilepsy Foundation
- Hemophilia Federation of America
- Immune Deficiency Foundation
- JDRF
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
- Lutheran Services in America
- March of Dimes
- Muscular Dystrophy Association
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
- National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
- National Health Council
- National Hemophilia Foundation
- National Kidney Foundation
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society
- National Organization for Rare Disorders
- National Patient Advocate Foundation
- National Psoriasis Foundation
- Pulmonary Hypertension Association
- Susan G. Komen
- WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease
Media Contact: Ryan Holeywell, Senior Director, Advocacy Communications