U.S. Supreme Court Upholds the Affordable Care Act

Full text of the Court's opinion

Today, by a vote of 5-4, the Supreme Court upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The Court ruled that PPACA is a valid exercise of Congress’ power to tax – meaning, the penalty for not purchasing health insurance is a kind of tax that Congress can impose. It was expected that the Court would rule as to whether Congress could use its power to regulate commerce between the states to require everyone to buy health insurance.

The Court also found that the law’s expansion of Medicaid can move forward, but the federal government may not withhold a state's existing Medicaid funding if the state declines to comply with the expansion.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion.