By Leo Shane III -
WASHINGTON – Thursday’s Supreme Court decision upholding the
constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could have
far-reaching effects on American health care policy and politics over
the next few years. What it won’t do is affect any Tricare or Veterans
Affairs health care coverage.
Lawmakers specifically exempted those systems from the health care
debate in 2010, in response to concerns that the new rules and
regulations could upset their patient care efforts. Congress also passed
the Tricare Affirmation Act that year, adding an extra layer of
exemption and protection.
Of course, military and veterans families still could see some changes
under the new rules. Already, those health care systems have seen their
policies updated to allow children under 26 to remain on their parents’
plans, mirroring the larger ACA provisions.
And veterans ineligible or unwilling to use VA health care options will
be affected by the larger changes in private health insurance.
Republican House leaders have promised to work to repeal the measure,
but that’s unlikely as long as Democrats hold onto power in the Senate
and White House.