DFL Statement on the Supreme Court Hearing Another Challenge to the Affordable Care Act

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Yesterday, the Supreme Court announced it would hear another lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act. This is the latest in a long series of conservative legal attempts to eliminate the popular health care law, and the first to come before the Supreme Court with Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch on the bench.

If the Supreme Court overturns the Affordable Care Act, 266,000 Minnesotans would lose access to health insurance. Nationwide, nearly 20 million Americans could lose access to the care they depend on.

DFL Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement:

“Once again, the health care of tens of millions of Americans is on the chopping block thanks to President Trump and his Republican allies’ relentless assault on the Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court hearing another Affordable Care Act case is dire news for Minnesotans everywhere because time and time again, conservative efforts to eliminate the popular health care law have come dangerously close to succeeding.

“We cannot afford to re-elect President Trump and give him another four years to tear down the health care of hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans and millions of Americans. I encourage all Minnesotans to vote in November like their health care depends on it because it does.”

The number of Minnesotans by congressional district who would lose access to health insurance if the Affordable Care Act is overturned is as follows:

MN-1              Jim Hagedorn               29,000
MN-2              Angie Craig                   35,000
MN-3              Dean Phillips                26,000
MN-4              Betty McCollum          40,000
MN-5              Ilhan Omar                    55,000
MN-6              Tom Emmer                  21,000
MN-7              Collin C. Peterson       23,000
MN-8              Pete Stauber                  37,000

If the Affordable Care Act is eliminated:

  • Over 2 million Minnesotans with pre-existing conditions would lose the protections provided to them by the Affordable Care Act
  • 2.3 million young adults would be forced off their parents’ insurance
  • 9 million Americans would lose financial assistance that helps them pay for insurance
  • Insurance companies could charge women more for their insurance than men
  • Insurance companies could stop covering prescription drugs and maternity care