Protect the ACA from Trump’s legal assault

The Affordable Care Act enrollment period for 2020 is underway and those who depend on the ACA are still uncertain of its future because the Trump administration is working through the courts to get the ACA repealed. Senators including Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley were unable to repeal the ACA in Congress, so the Trump administration took it to the courts. Now, we wait as the Fifth Circuit considers the constitutionality of the ACA's Individual Mandate. The Department of Justice normally defends the acts of Congress when they are challenged in courts; however, in this case, the DOJ has joined the plaintiffs in attacking the validity of the individual mandate.

There are many questions left unanswered: What happens to the ACA? Will millions of Americans be dropped from their plans? Will private insurers once again be allowed to charge more for preexisting conditions and based on age and gender?

The ACA case will most likely now end up in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, leaving millions of Americans wondering what will happen to their care. Why aren't Ernst and Grassley trying to protect our health care instead of trying to get rid of it? Many of my family members' lives depend on the ACA.

Margaret Stephen

Cedar Rapids