W.Va. customers’ health insurance subsidies in peril
Okay, can anyone explain to me in plain English what the hell is going on here?
The Charleston Gazette
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
W.Va. customers’ health insurance subsidies in peril
By Lydia Nuzum
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A ruling issued by a federal appeals court Tuesday has called into question whether West Virginia will be able to offer health insurance subsidies through the Affordable Care Act.
In its decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that states that partnered with the federal government to create an ACA insurance exchange were not eligible to offer consumer subsidies, finding that the law as written allows subsidies only for exchanges “established by the state.” West Virginia, which operates a partnership marketplace that gives some responsibility to the federal government, is one of 36 states with an exchange that is fully or partially federally run.
In a contradictory ruling also issued Tuesday, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia, upheld the portion of the law that grants subsidies. The Obama administration has already said it will appeal the D.C. court’s ruling.
“It is our understanding the D.C. Circuit and the Fourth Circuit have reached conflicting conclusions with respect to certain tax issues raised by the Affordable Care Act,” Chris Stadelman, communications director for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, wrote in an email. “We continue to review today’s decisions and will monitor future court action related to the Affordable Care Act.”....
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