Supreme Court case no threat to CT health insurance exchange
Connecticut residents with health insurance under the state’s online marketplace, Access Health CT, were not in jeopardy of losing federal subsidies if the Supreme Court had ruled differently in the King v. Burwell case, but the ruling affirming the subsidies is nonetheless good news, state officials said Thursday.
“While a different decision would not have directly impacted Connecticut, it would have negatively impacted millions of people across the country and added confusion here in Connecticut,” Jim Wadleigh, chief executive officer of Access Health CT, said in a news release. “Now that this ruling has been issued, we look forward to continuing our work for the people of Connecticut.
In the 6-3 ruling, Supreme Court justices said federal subsidies can be granted to all enrollees regardless of whether their state uses a state-based marketplace or a federally run one.
The challenge to the ruling focused only on states with federally run programs. A negative ruling would have shrunk the national insurance pool, however, potentially raising costs for Connecticut residents.
Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, chairwoman of the Access Health CT board, said the ruling reinforces the commitment Connecticut made to operate its own marketplace. About 594,000 residents have health insurance through Access Health CT, she said.
Subsidies are an essential part of the Affordable Care Act, said Katharine Wade, commissioner of the state Insurance Department.
“By preserving them, this ruling has helped ensure continued availability and affordability of health insurance,” she said.
j.benson@theday.com
Twitter: @BensonJudy
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