This Supreme Court Health Insurance Ruling Affects 150 Million Americans—What This Means for Cancer Patients
In a critical victory for patients on June 27th, the Supreme Court has determined that health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, must continue to fully cover preventative services, including cancer screenings, HIV prevention medication, and mental health counseling, without co-pays or deductibles.
An estimated 150 million Americans will benefit from the ruling, according to the O'Neill Institute at Georgetown Law. These preventative treatments have been available to Americans under the ACA since the law went into effect over a decade ago—and advocates argued that eliminating access could pose significant health care risks to those who rely on them the most.
Before the ruling, a New Orleans lower court had deemed the ACA's preventative services mandate unconstitutional, arguing that the members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force were not validly appointed. Had the decision stood, insurers could impose cost-sharing on screenings, meaning patients could have been forced to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs, potentially leading to skipped exams and life-threatening delayed diagnoses.
A 2024 report published in Health Services Research revealed that with the implementation of ACA, patients receiving cancer treatment increased by 6.2%, with a noted sharp increase in 2016 when Medicaid expansion took effect in Pennsylvania. Another progress report by the American Association for Cancer Research found that the ACA shrunk other coverage gaps, including the rate of delayed surgery, which dropped from 9.8% to 8.4% after Medicaid expansion for patients belonging to ethnic minority groups.
Although this ruling heavily impacts cancer screenings, it also preserves coverage for other preventative care like cholesterol, blood pressure checks, lung cancer screenings, HIV prevention (PrEP), medications to prevent breast cancer, and immunizations. Patients who face multiple health risks should use a holistic approach and capitalize on ACA's benefits for a robust safety net.
Consumers should: Maintain regular screenings: The Affordable Care Act continues to fully cover routine cancer screenings at no cost. Make use of annual mammograms, colonoscopies, or lung-cancer risk to catch anything at an early stage.
The Affordable Care Act continues to fully cover routine cancer screenings at no cost. Make use of annual mammograms, colonoscopies, or lung-cancer risk to catch anything at an early stage. Watch for policy changes: Though coverage remains solid for now, future reforms or appointee decisions under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, could mean changes in the future. Stay alert to federal health updates.
The Supreme Court's ruling is a significant win for cancer patients and public health. By guaranteeing continued access to free preventative care, it helps improve early detection, reduce treatment costs and barriers, and save lives. However, vigilance is key. Patients should stay aware of administrative changes that might shift the policy basis of covered services in the future.
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