Harkin: ACA Designed to Ensure Quality, Affordable Coverage Available to Every American

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) released the following statement today following rulings from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (King v. Burwell)  and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (Halbig v. Burwell) regarding the use of tax credits on state-based Health Insurance Marketplaces. Harkin is chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee and played a pivotal role in the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

“The goal of the ACA was to ensure that quality, affordable coverage would be available to every American. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed that the law was written to ensure that financial help would be available on the federal and state Marketplaces. We can see clearly today that the law is working: more than eight million Americans, many of whom have never had access to health insurance, have enrolled in coverage through the newly-created Marketplaces—with 85 percent of enrollees receiving tax credits to help them pay for it.

“We know that Congressional Republicans will try to use the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit’s outlier ruling as a scare tactic to confuse Americans about the future of the ACA. Let me be clear: tax credits for Americans who qualify will continue as this case continues to make its way through the legal system. Americans who received financial help in 2014 and those who seek coverage for 2015 should know that tax credits and subsidies will remain available. 

“It is long past time to stop playing politics with Americans’ lives, their wellbeing and their financial security. After dozens of failed attempts to repeal the ACA and no viable option to provide affordable healthcare, the only avenue left to Republicans is to pursue an increasingly cynical strategy to undermine the ACA through the courts. Rather than looking back, our focus should be on ensuring that the law continues to fulfill its goal of helping Americans access the care they need.”  

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