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The United States Supreme Court issued a ruling Thursday on the case of King v. Burwell, in which it was determined that everyone who purchases healthcare through a public exchange is eligible for federal subsidies in order to offset the cost of that purchase.

"I am disappointed by the ruling," said Congressman Tom Reed. "Obamacare has been flawed from the very beginning, and as a Congress we need to make every effort to repeal the law."

But U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell disagreed.

"Today's Supreme Court decision confirms that the Affordable Care Act's tax credits are available to all eligible Americans no matter where they live," she said.  "Americans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia can continue to rely on the security and peace of mind that come with affordable, quality health care coverage."

Reed says that in the original Affordable Care Act language, the bill states "an Exchange established by the State," when discussing which types of individuals are eligible for subsidies.  During implementation, subsidy guidelines were extended to all citizens who purchased health insurance on any public exchange.
 
"The original wording was not sloppy legislating, or an oversight, but was an intentional position as part of the Administration's coercive tactics to force the states into accepting Obamacare. The Administration and Members of Congress are now back peddling for political expediency, but this was and has always been the intention of the law," Reed continued.

Burwell says the Affordable Care Act is working to improve access, affordability and quality.

"That is the story I hear as I travel across this country," she said Thursday. "People's lives have been changed and even saved because they have health insurance—many for the first time. They have coverage that can keep them healthy and provide quality care when they are sick."

Burwell also said the Affordable Care Act strengthens protections for almost every American with health insurance. She notes that people with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied coverage or charged higher premiums.

"Critical preventive services, like immunizations and certain cancer screenings, are available at no additional cost," she said. "Since parents can keep their children on their health insurance policies up to age 26, young Americans can stay in school or find their first job without worrying about their coverage.  And your health premiums can no longer be higher just because you are a woman."

Reed went on to discuss the future of the Obamacare stating, "[t]he future of Obamacare really rests with the American people. It's up to them to select the next president of the United States, and whoever that is, will decide the fate of this law. If the American people really want to see the law repealed, they will have to make it happen by voting for a candidate that supports that action."

Burwell said that Affordable Health Care is already doing what Americans want.

"I hope that this positive decision will do what the American people want us to do -- focus on the substance and turn to building on the progress we have made," she said. "They want us to move forward to provide more Americans with affordable access to quality coverage and create a health care system that improves the quality of care and spends our dollars more wisely."

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