The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a legal challenge later this year brought by a series of Republican-led states against the Obama health law, putting the case squarely in the middle of the 2020 race for President, as Democrats accuse President Donald Trump of doing all he can to end health insurance protections for Americans.
Without comment, the Justices announced on Monday that a pair of cases focused on the individual mandate - which requires people to get health insurance or pay a tax penalty - would be on the docket for the fall term, which begins on the first Monday in October.
No date was immediately set for the arguments - which conceivably could come just before the November elections.
In December 2018, a federal judge ruled that the individual mandate was unconstitutional - and thus, the entire Obama health law should be declared unconstitutional as well.
Even as this legal battle has gone on, President Trump routinely says he is for provisions in the Obama health law which allow people with pre-existing medical conditions to get insurance coverage - but Democrats point out those would be eliminated if the GOP wins this case on the individual mandate.
"We will always protect patients with pre-existing conditions," the President said over the weekend.
"I will always protect your Pre-Existing Conditions, the Dems will not!" Mr. Trump tweeted last month, as Democrats say the President is doing nothing more than lying about what this lawsuit could do to the Obama health law.
"Your regular reminder that the @realDonaldTrump Administration is suing to eliminate the law that guarantees coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions," tweeted Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) on Monday.
While Democrats running for President have mainly been debating the merits of ideas like Medicare For All, this lawsuit going before the Supreme Court could alter that political calculus.
“For Americans who care about saving their health care, especially protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions, the Supreme Court’s decision to hear the case is a stark reminder of President Trump’s determination to end those protections,” said Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer.
“The cliffhanger of agreeing to hear the case, but on a timeline that pushes the decision past the election, is the worst of all worlds for Republicans,” said Democratic strategist Brian Fallon.
No date has been set as yet for the arguments. Even if they take place before the elections, no ruling would be expected until 2021.
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