FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT
Jessica Daitch
Phone: 917-816-6712
Email: jdaitch@ghlf.org
UPPER NYACK, NY (January 16, 2020) – In partnership with more than a dozen patient organizations, the Global Healthy Living Foundation today announced the filing of an amicus brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in regards to Texas vs. United States, which argues that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional following Congress eliminating the penalty for individuals to obtain health insurance. The elimination of the penalty resulted in the increased availability of less expensive, short-term, and limited plans, drawing healthy individuals out of the ACA insurance pool. Global Healthy Living Foundation argues that dismantling the key components of the ACA harms patients and their families, particularly those living with chronic disease.
“Dismantling the Affordable Care Act hurts patients by blocking access to vital healthcare services. This is compounded for patients with chronic diseases who rely on insurance coverage to help cover costs for treatment,” stated Steven Newmark, Director of Policy and General Counsel, Global Healthy Living Foundation. “Invalidating the ACA over Congress’s clear intent to the contrary — as the district court did and as the court of appeals’ ruling leaves open — has life-altering implications for patients with chronic diseases.”
“We know the ACA isn’t perfect, but the zeal to dismantle it piece by piece without a plan in place will undermine the stability of the markets for ACA-compliant plans,” said Seth Ginsberg, President and Co-Founder, Global Healthy Living Foundation. “While short term plans are very high risk, even for the healthy, we’re even more concerned that insurers will leave the marketplace rather than cover a higher-risk pool of patients – those with chronic or co-morbid diseases who need comprehensive plans.”
The groups on the brief include the American Cancer Society, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation, Global Healthy Living Foundation, Hemophilia Federation of America, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, March of Dimes, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, National Hemophilia Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Organization for Rare Disorders, The Kennedy Forum and United Way Worldwide.
