King v. Burwell: The essentials — 10 facts to know

The Supreme Court is anticipated to issue its ruling on the King v. Burwell case by the end of this month.

Here are 10 facts about the case:

1. The court will decide whether subsidies, available for lower- and middle-income customers, are unconstitutional for federal exchanges.

2. The PPACA specifically allows for subsidies on state-run exchanges. However, in implementation the Internal Revenue Services provided subsidies for both state-run and federal exchanges.

3. If the court rules subsidies for federal exchanges are unconstitutional, the Department of Health and Human Services states that over 6 million citizens would lose subsidies in those states that rely on the federal government for health insurance exchanges.

4. Those who remain enrolled in exchanges after the federal exchange subsidies were removed would see premium increases of 287 percent.

5. The loss of federal exchange subsidies would also increase premiums for people who purchase insurance outside of the exchanges.

6. If the decision is issued at its set time this month, subsidies will be discontinued as early as August as Supreme Court rulings typically take effect 25 days after they are issued.

7. Congress could pass a bill restoring subsidies by having them made available through exchanges as "established by the state." This proposal has encountered opposition from the majority of Republicans, who have yet to unite around a specific strategy.

8. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell, told Congress the administration lacks the authority to undo "massive damage" resulting from loss of subsidies.

9. Ms. Burwell also revealed the administration will collaborate with the states to mitigate the effects of the potential loss.

10. House Republicans are challenging the money allotted for the law's subsidies, claiming the money was not properly approved by Congress and thus the administration did not have the power to delay the law's requirements that larger employers provide coverage or face a penalty.

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