Release date: 7/9/2019
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein released the following statement as oral arguments begin today in Texas v. United States in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. Attorney General Stein and 16 other attorneys general are fighting to defend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in appealing a 2018 district court ruling that found the ACA unconstitutional.
Attorney General Stein’s statement is below:
“At precisely the time when we should be moving forward – and expanding Medicaid to help even more people in North Carolina get the health care coverage they deserve – the administration and 20 Republican attorneys general want to do just the opposite. They are in federal court trying to strike down the Affordable Care Act. But I want the people of North Carolina to know this: I will never waver in my commitment to putting people – and their health and safety – first.
“The Affordable Care Act enriches and saves lives – but is today on life support. Just think about what the Affordable Care Act has meant to the health of millions of North Carolinians who can be treated for preexisting conditions, who save money on their prescription drugs, and who have health insurance coverage they were previously unable to obtain.
“The ACA truly saves lives and improves our health care system. It is also the law of the land as affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Every benefit to millions of North Carolinians is under real threat – but I will continue my fight to protect health care for the people of this state.”
Background
Without the Affordable Care Act:
- Nearly five million North Carolinians will risk losing coverage due to their preexisting conditions,
- Approximately 1.8 million seniors will see the cost of their prescription drugs jump, and
- More than 500,000 North Carolinians will be at risk of losing their health insurance altogether.
More information on the lawsuit is available here and here.
Contact:
Laura Brewer (919) 716-6484