The Trump Administration on May 1 argued in a federal court brief that the entire Affordable Care Act (ACA) should be struck down. The administration had signaled its intention to gut the ACA in a one-page filing in late March; last week’s 50-page brief contains the details of its argument.
A group of ACA defenders – including the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives and state Attorneys General, including the Bay State’s AG Maura Healey – have 21 days to respond to the U.S. Department of Justice filing.
Oral arguments before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans are expected in July and the case may be decided before the end of the year. Whatever the decision, it is likely to be appealed before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Tens of millions of people would lose health insurance coverage if the ACA is struck down. The Trump Administration has not come up with an alternative coverage plan, but the president tweeted in April that a “really great” one is in the works and that a vote on it will occur after the 2020 election.