Supreme Court Ruling

Today the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the constitutionality of the individual mandate provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Accordingly, PPACA’s current health insurance reform provisions will remain in force and we will continue implementing the law, as applicable.

Background

PPACA became law on March 23, 2010. Shortly thereafter, 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) sued the federal government, claiming that PPACA’s “individual mandate” provision (which requires all individuals to have “minimum essential” health coverage beginning in 2014 or be subject to a penalty) was unconstitutional.

Implications

There will be no impact on implementation of PPACA for employers and plan sponsors, which will need to continue the process of activating the various provisions, including the employer mandate, which will go into effect in 2014.