Employee Benefit Advisors blogged Oct 9, 2013 about court cases that have been falling under the radar. EBA said “These cases could dismantle health care reform as we know it.”  –  Yesterday the decision came down the “Court bars PPACA aid for federal exchange shoppers.” The decision has already been appealed, however, the way PPACA is written makes it very clear that the subsidy is available only to people who bought plans on state-run exchanges. Only 14 states have opted to set up their own marketplaces.

A conflicting ruling was also issued on an almost identical case by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in VA. To complicate things further, there are two other cases still pending before other circuit courts. These conflicting rulings mean that the issue will almost certainly be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court later this year. If and when heard by the Supreme Court, expect a final decision regarding the availability of subsidies in federally facilitated marketplaces no sooner than June 2015.

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Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;
All the King’s horses, and all the King’s men
Cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again.

…so apropos