Obamacare
Obamacare customers are increasing as nearly 11.7 million individuals have signed up nationally by February 22 figures as announced by Secretary Sylvia Burwell of U.S. Health and Human Services Department on CNBC.
With almost all states announced a special enrollment in the health plan beyond the February 15 closing, the number is expected to increase as more taxpayers were financially penalized for failure to obtain tax deductible health care plan. There are more than 5 million individuals had enrolled since last November 15 bringing the overall total to 11.7 million.
According to Sec. Burwell, the number tells that the Affordable Care Act was working last Monday at the White House event. She said further that, "these numbers represent real people whose lives have changed for the better, while we know that number [of customers] will change as the year continues, we are pleased with the results to date."
She underscored that the pending case in the US Supreme Court that challenges the constitutionality of some of the key provisions of the affordable Care Act will put a great risk to millions of plan holders. Petitioners contest the legality of subsidies given to 7.7 million plan holders of the Obamacare because the ACA only authorizes tax credits to customers in 37 states with exchange Health Care.
Secretary Burwell stated that almost 90% of the Health Care Government Plan holders got an average monthly tax credit of 263 USD, while more than half of them have paid less than 100 USD a month for their health plans. "Those who support this lawsuit believe that the law should be dismantled or repealed and they are content to roll back the progress that we have achieved together," Burwell emphasized. She further said that "The law is clear. The text and structure of the Affordable Care Act demonstrate that individuals in every state are eligible for tax credits."
The US Supreme Court is likely to rule on the issue of its legality by June according to Yahoo News.
