© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Connecticut, like other states, launched an online health exchange -- Access Health CT -- where residents can shop for and purchase health insurance. There could be new opportunities for the unemployed or uninsured to receive health insurance. Here, we gather our coverage of changes under the new federal law.

Connecticut, Multi-State Coalition Petitions U.S. Supreme Court To Take Obamacare Case

Frankie Graziano
/
Connecticut Public Radio
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong

A multi-state coalition of Democratic state attorney’s general and a governor are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on a recent court decision on the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate in an effort to preserve the federal health care law. 

The California-led coalition, which includes Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and leaders from 19 other states, filed a petition Friday to the nation’s highest court seeking a review of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal’s decision in Texas v. United States.

The appeals court ruled last month that the individual mandate, which requires people to purchase health insurance, was unconstitutional. The court did not invalidate the entire ACA, but the decision challenges other parts of the law, like coverage for pre-existing conditions, zero co-pay preventative services and dependent coverage for children up to 26 years old.

“No one wants to return to the days where insurers discriminated against patients with so-called pre-existing conditions like diabetes, childhood cancer or pregnancy,” Tong said in a statement. “No one wants thousands of young people, or hundreds of thousands of Medicaid patients, kicked off their plans overnight.

“The consequences in this case are literally life and death for far too many people in Connecticut.”

The appeals court decision last month was considered a win for GOP legislators who want to repeal the ACA.  A Texas-led coalition of Republican state attorney’s general and governors filed the original lawsuit in February 2018.

The Democratic coalition is asking U.S. Supreme Court judges to review the case before the end of the court’s current term in June.  

Nicole Leonard joined Connecticut Public Radio to cover health care after several years of reporting for newspapers. In her native state of New Jersey, she covered medical and behavioral health care, as well as arts and culture, for The Press of Atlantic City. Her work on stories about domestic violence and childhood food insecurity won awards from the New Jersey Press Association.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content