Ellmers Responds to King v. Burwell Ruling

Press Release

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (R-NC-02) issued the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that federal tax credits are available for enrollees living in states with their own exchanges and those in the 34 states with federal exchanges:

"Today's decision from the Supreme Court is truly regrettable, as it further institutionalizes the President's fundamentally damaged health care law. It is disappointing to see the Supreme Court prop up this floundering law yet again. Having served as a nurse and cared for the sick, I understand how vital it is that every American has access to affordable and high-quality healthcare. However, Obamacare has shown us time and time again --at the public's expense--that its policy is inadequate and unaffordable for the American people."

"Justice Scalia's concluding dissent succinctly summarizes what so many of us are thinking: "And the cases will publish forever the discouraging truth that the Supreme Court of the United States favors some laws over others, and is prepared to do whatever it takes to uphold and assist its favorites.' Obamacare is not the right path for the American people, and I remain committed to bringing healthcare back to where it belongs--with a focus on the patient."

The Affordable Care Act mandated that every U.S. citizen purchase a healthcare plan through a private provider, their state, or the federal government. To facilitate this law, a federal exchange was created at HealthCare.gov. Some states elected to provide their own exchange or to use the federal HealthCare.gov system; however, North Carolina elected to use the federal exchange.

Although a closer look at the language revealed concerns, as the way the law was written revealed that subsidies could only be used by consumers who acquire their healthcare through a marketplace "established by the state." However, the King v. Burwell Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that federal subsidies are legal for Americans living in states with state-run exchanges and also in the 34 states with federally-operated insurance exchanges.

In North Carolina, 92% of the population relies on subsidies. With the average North Carolinian receiving $316 per month in healthcare subsidies, and roughly 460,000 people qualifying for subsidies, that's almost $1.7 billion in federal tax credit per year.

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