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http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/12/07/supreme-court-obamacare-challengers/19291951/
The challenge hinges on four words repeated several times in the statute: "established by the State." It posits that only state-operated health insurance exchanges can offer the federal subsidies that make premiums affordable for millions of participants. In 36 states where the federal government runs the exchanges, the lawsuit claims, such assistance shouldn't be allowed.
If the challengers succeed — a prospect that once seemed far-fetched but now looks like a 50-50 proposition — it would threaten federal tax credits averaging $4,700 a year for more than 7 million people. Without that help, most of them would not be required to get health insurance, because it would not be affordable. If they drop out, insurers would be forced to raise rates on everyone else, and the entire economic model behind Obamacare could collapse.
That potential chain reaction — representing the greatest threat to Obamacare since its last near-death experience at the Supreme Court — looms because of the grunt work put in by people such as Tom Christina.
The challenge hinges on four words repeated several times in the statute: "established by the State." It posits that only state-operated health insurance exchanges can offer the federal subsidies that make premiums affordable for millions of participants. In 36 states where the federal government runs the exchanges, the lawsuit claims, such assistance shouldn't be allowed.
If the challengers succeed — a prospect that once seemed far-fetched but now looks like a 50-50 proposition — it would threaten federal tax credits averaging $4,700 a year for more than 7 million people. Without that help, most of them would not be required to get health insurance, because it would not be affordable. If they drop out, insurers would be forced to raise rates on everyone else, and the entire economic model behind Obamacare could collapse.
That potential chain reaction — representing the greatest threat to Obamacare since its last near-death experience at the Supreme Court — looms because of the grunt work put in by people such as Tom Christina.
