Maloney: "Trump Administration's constant and reckless attacks on the health care of millions of New Yorkers will not stand."

Statement

Last evening, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled to strike down part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), landmark legislation providing access to health care for millions of Americans. The court's decision in Texas v. United States would end patient protections granted through the ACA, including provisions preventing insurance companies from discriminating against millions of seniors and women by charging higher premiums or denying healthcare based on pre-existing conditions.

The case was brought by eighteen Republican state attorneys general and two Republican governors.

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) released the following statement:

"The Trump Administration's constant and reckless attacks on the health care of millions of New Yorkers will not stand. This ruling is a setback, but not the end of our fight. We will continue to protect and defend the care so many rely on from this partisan sabotage," said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney.

The ruling is expected to be appealed to the United States Supreme Court.

The lawsuit centers around a provision of the 2017 tax law pushed by Republicans, which eliminated the penalty for people who defy the ACA requirement that most Americans obtain health insurance -- the individual mandate. In December of 2018, Federal District Court Judge Reed O'Connor ruled that without the ability to enforce individual mandate the law is unconstitutional, rendering it invalid in its entirety. Last year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it would not defend the law in court against the suit, leaving it vulnerable to the partisan attack by the states. The ruling has been appealed by 20 other states and the District of Columbia and the law will remain in effect during the appeals process.

As the first act of the 116th Congress, House Democrats voted to direct the Office of General Counsel of the House of Representatives to intervene in defense of the Affordable Care Act.

Over 53 million Americans between the ages of 18-64 live with a pre-existing condition, including over 3 million non-elderly New Yorkers. A record 4.76 million New Yorkers enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans for 2019.

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