Supreme Court Upholds Health Reform – Implementation Marches On
June 28, 2012
Authored by: benefitsbclp
In a landmark 5-4 decision announced today, the United States Supreme Court upheld key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“PPACA”). Although the individual mandate – wherein individuals must obtain health insurance coverage or pay a penalty – was determined to be unconstitutional under the Commerce Clause, Chief Justice Roberts, writing for the majority, concluded that the individual mandate may be upheld as within Congress’s power under the Taxing Clause.
As the individual mandate was upheld, the Court did not need to reach the issue of severability from the myriad other market-reform mandates. The result for companies is that implementation of health care reform continues unabated. Dependents, if covered, must be covered until age 26. Annual and lifetime dollar limits are still subject to regulation and prohibition, as applicable. Group health plans must still provide a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (“SBC”) for open enrollments