Future of Affordable Care Act in jeopardy

Future of Affordable Care Act in jeopardy

Dan shaffer, huntsville residents who rely on the affordable care act are worried.

The united states supreme court heard arguments for two hours today on whether to overturn it.

President donald trump and several other republican leaders argue the individual mandate in the a-c-a that requires all americans to have health insurance - is unconstitutiona l.

Waay 31's casey albritton joins us live now from huntsville hospital... she learned how some huntsville residents could be impacted if the act is overturned.

Casey?

The affordable care act allows young adults to stay on their parents insurance plan until they turn 26... i spoke to two people in huntsville who are under 26 and say if the affordable care act is overturned, they won't be able to afford regular doctor and hospital visits.

Maggie matteson/ huntsville resident "i ended up becoming really dehydrated and had to make an emergency room trip and the affordable care act has helped my medical bills crazy amounts."

It's now been a year since maggie matteson went to the hospital and she says thanks to the affordable care act, her payments are lower.

Maggie matteson/ huntsville resident "it definitely helped lessen the blow."

Matteson and her boyfriend chris foeller are both covered by their parents insurance until age 26 under the a-c-a chris foeller/ huntsville resident "people have had 200-dollar bills, but because i'm under my parent's insurance, i haven't had the same kind of bills they have."

Maggie matteson/ huntsville resident "being able to go to the doctor when i have a cold."

They say if the affordable care act was overturned, they would struggle to make ends meet.

Maggie matteson/ huntsville resident "i'd probably definitely be upset."

Chris foeller/ huntsville resident "if you're hurt and you're unable to work, you can't pay those bills."

Both matteson and foeller are currently focusing on school and need the affordable care act until they can get a job with good insurance.

Maggie matteson/ huntsville resident "there a huge upper middle class, wealthy class that can go in and pay their bills when they need to, but the majority of americans today need insurance."

A study published by the office of the assistant secretary for planning and evaluation in 2016 says roughly 20 million people in the united states rely on the aca.

And matteson and foeller say they hope the supreme court waits until after the pandemic to make any changes.

Chris foeller/ huntsville resident "our country is already having issues with covid and the treatment of it."

Supreme court justices will now go over the case and is expected to release a ruling sometime next summer.

Live in huntsville, casey albritton, waay 31 news.

Thanks casey.

Projected presidential winner, joe biden commented on the situation today.

He said quote -- "we're going to do everything in our power to ease the burden of health care on you and your families.

That starts by building on the affordable care act with the