Key takeaways:
- U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor has struck down a requirement that private insurers cover a variety of preventive services for free.
- The ruling means that insurers and employers will have discretion over whether and how to cover certain routine screenings, exams and tests.
- The ruling applies only to some preventive services, and has been a popular benefit used by tens of millions of people.
A federal judge in Texas, known for his rulings against the Affordable Care Act, has struck down a requirement that private insurers cover a variety of preventive services for free. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor affects a provision of the Affordable Care Act that has required insurers to cover these services, with zero out-of-pocket costs, since 2011.
The ruling means that insurers and employers who run plans for employees will have discretion over whether and how to cover certain routine screenings, exams and tests, including HIV screenings. Opponents of the ruling say it will jeopardize preventive care for millions of Americans.
It is not yet clear what the ruling will mean in practice, as the decision’s complexity and uncertainty about how or when insurers and employers will react remain. The ruling applies only to some preventive services, and is not seen as a potential fatal blow to the ACA like previous court cases.
The provision of the Affordable Care Act that was struck down has been a popular benefit used by tens of millions of people. It is unclear what the implications of the ruling will be, but it is certain that it will have an impact on the availability of preventive care for many Americans.
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