Statement from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure on U.S. Supreme Court Decision to Uphold the Affordable Care Act in California v. Texas

 “Millions of Americans can breathe a sigh of relief following today’s Supreme Court 7-2 ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act. This victory assures access to affordable and comprehensive health insurance for patients and families across the country.

“From my early career on the House Ways and Means Committee, I worked on this life-saving law. And later in a leadership post at CMS, I worked to implement the ACA – and the results are clear. Tens of millions of Americans can no longer be discriminated against due to pre-existing conditions like cancer, asthma, or diabetes. Thanks to the ACA, millions of people have access to preventative health care at no cost and Medicare prescription drug coverage was made more affordable by closing the gaps in coverage.  Through the ACA, and hand-in-hand with CMS, dozens of states have expanded Medicaid – bringing quality coverage to our family and neighbors who need it most. We will continue to partner with states because we know 4 million more Americans stand to gain access to quality health coverage in the remaining states. 

“So, our work is far from finished. CMS is focused on building on the successes of ACA to further expand access to health coverage. Thanks to the ACA and President Biden's American Rescue Plan, coverage on HealthCare.gov is more affordable than ever before. We are continuing to see Americans sign up for coverage through the Special Enrollment Period, which runs through August 15th, and we know Americans are taking advantage of the opportunity with over 1.2 million already signed up.

“When it comes to making sure every American--in every community--has access to comprehensive, affordable health care, we'll continue to work to ensure that no one is left out, left behind, or left on the sidelines. That's our goal and our promise.”