A Supreme Court case that could affect millions who have received health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) represents conservatives' attempt to "strip what is now a basic American right under the law for ... a partisan objective," Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop said in an online opinion piece.
On Sunday on the Huffington Post blog, the mayor came out in support of the ACA and denounced what he called "conservatives (trying to) rip away what can be literally life saving coverage."
Fulop's comments follow the Supreme Court's March 4 hearing of arguments in the King v. Burwell case which challenges the availability of tax subsidies for people who purchase health coverage on the federal exchange HealthCare.gov.
Some are arguing that a phrase in the legislation means subsidies are only available to individuals who buy their insurance on a state-established exchange, pitting states' rights against the over 8 million who have used the federal Health Insurance Exchange to purchase coverage.
Fulop says conservatives don't care about those who have already received coverage and how the SCOTUS decision could affect them, making subsidies at least temporarily unavailable.
"They're just hell-bent to take away something that they have, but don't want others to have as well," Fulop said on Huffington Post. "It's insurance protection that we've seen is important to those who are now covered."
Fulop also noted the ACA's impact in Jersey City and his government's aggressive campaign to get citizens signed up.
"Jersey City is leading New Jersey in providing access to health care through the ACA with 10 percent of the State's enrollees living in Jersey City.
"Our outreach has been vigorous and we've worked to reach every community in the City, in the places they work, live and even relax. We've partnered with community leaders and local non-profits, hired bilingual staff, and made a strong push to enroll as many residents as possible with health care coverage as this benefits not only the individual but the entire community," he said.
About 55,000 Jersey City residents were without coverage when the law first went into effect, Fulop said, adding that 40 percent of that group has since received coverage.
"These numbers make it clear -- there is a true need for quality, affordable health care and that's what conservatives are trying to take away from their fellow Americans," said Fulop. "We're probably going to have to wait until June before we know the Court's decision and it's my hope that common sense will rule. The Justices should not take away what is now an important part of American citizenship."
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