In response to the news today that the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected the constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Dr. Jamila Taylor, senior fellow and director of health care reform at The Century Foundation (TCF), released the following statement:

“Today’s news means that the ACA will continue to be a literal lifeline for more than 30 million people. Over the last year and a half, we have seen how threats to our health can affect all of us at any time, whether we have access to insurance or not. We have also seen how access to basic health care can be the difference between life and death. For many, especially people of color and those with limited incomes, the ACA gives millions of people a fighting chance against the health events that can derail our economic security and wellbeing.

“For more than a decade, we have had to fight to preserve the very basic health protections provided by the ACA. With this ruling, we can now turn to the necessary work of building on the foundation of coverage that it provides. Making the expanded premium credits that were part of the American Rescue Plan permanent, charting a clear path to universal coverage in America, and expanding Medicaid across the entire country are all key to making health insurance coverage more affordable. These are also vital advancements that will be critical to ensuring a healthy and thriving future for all.”

Read Dr. Taylor’s road map for reaching universal coverage in America. Find more of her work on health care equity at TCF.org.