18 states sue Trump administration to keep ACA subsidies

President Donald Trump’s decision to dismantle a key provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has brought swift reaction from state governments around the country.
Attorneys general in eighteen states and Washington, D.C., signed onto a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in California, according to a spokeswoman for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

“Without the Affordable Care Act [ACA] and its subsidies for these families, millions more would be left in the cold without coverage. California isn’t about to turn its back on hardworking families who are fighting to hold onto their ACA health insurance. We’ve taken the Trump administration to court before and won, and we’re ready to do it again if necessary.”

Trump signed an executive order to stop the federal subsidy for deductibles and co-pays for those with the lowest income. Supporters believe that the cost-sharing subsidies are illegal, while many others are concerned that by driving millions of consumers away, that the rest of the exchange will fail.
Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear echoed the sentiment of Becerra in a similar statement:

“Today’s action is not about the president. It is about making the federal government keep its promises and protect the health and prosperity of our Kentucky families. The Kentucky Attorney General’s office has a record of filing suit when the federal government harms Kentucky families, including lawsuits against the last administration.”

According to Beshear, 88,000 Kentuckians bought insurance through the federal exchange, and almost half of them will cease to receive cost-sharing subsidies now.

“Kentuckians face numerous health issues, and our communities are facing the worst drug epidemic our nation has ever seen. Access to affordable health care and drug treatment will move Kentucky forward. It is one of our best hopes. Now is not the time to turn our backs on hard-working Kentuckians.”