Ten Years In, ACA Must Be Defended

WASHINGTON, DC, March 23, 2020 – Ten years ago today, President Obama signed the landmark Affordable Care Act into law. A decade later, we are facing a global pandemic that proves we need its protections for health care now more than ever. The ACA has expanded health care access to millions across the country, including protections for the 135 million Americans with pre-existing conditions, resulting in a massive drop in the uninsured rate.

Despite these critical gains in coverage and a growing need to protect the uninsured in the face of what might be record rates of hospitalizations and deaths, Republicans continue to challenge the law in court. Just this weekend, President Trump shockingly doubled down on his support for the lawsuit that would completely overturn the ACA. Trump and Senate Republicans have likewise continued to pack the federal courts with judges committed to dismantling the law. As Trump promised, “My judicial appointments will do the right thing, unlike Bush’s appointee John Roberts, on Obamacare.”

Marking the Affordable Care Act’s anniversary, Alliance for Justice Action Campaign President Nan Aron issued the following statement:

“The president has recommitted his administration to stripping access to health care away from millions of people, including terminating protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Alliance for Justice has been sounding the alarm about his eagerness to appoint judges and justices who would dismantle the Affordable Care Act and who have little concern for the consequences of doing so. Senate Republicans — including several seeking reelection this fall — have been all too eager to confirm these anti-ACA judges while shamelessly feigning concern for maintaining their constituents’ access to health care.

“The coronavirus crisis is straining the limits of our health care system while we all make sacrifices to protect our most vulnerable friends, family members, and neighbors. Now, more than ever, we need to strengthen health care protections, not dismantle them. Imagine how much worse it would be if millions more people had no coverage. Unless Trump and Republicans drop their lawsuit and stop confirming judges committed to dismantling the ACA, that’s the future we are inevitably careening toward.”

Additional information about Trump’s anti-health care judges may be found below:

• Senate Republicans facing reelection challenges refuse to comment on the anti-ACA lawsuit. Read Nan Aron’s response.
• Despite their claims to support access to health care, Senate Republicans have repeatedly voted to confirm judges who have called for dismantling the ACA. Read more about their records.
• One of the most egregious nominees on health care was Chad Readler, who led the administration’s efforts to challenge the ACA before he was nominated to be a judge. Watch how several Senate Republicans spoke out about health care before taking a vote on his confirmation.
• Trump has made a point of nominating judges with anti-ACA records. Check out an overview of all of these nominees.
• Dig deeper into the most egregious records of these nominees, such as Brett Kavanaugh, Chad Readler, and Justin Walker.