U.S. Supreme Court rejects Trump-backed challenge to Obamacare

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday rejected a Republican bid backed by former President Donald Trump's administration to invalidate Obamacare, preserving the landmark healthcare law for the third time since its 2010 enactment.

The 7-2 ruling declared that Texas and other challengers had no legal standing to file their lawsuit seeking to nullify a law, formally called the Affordable Care Act, that has enabled millions of Americans to obtain medical coverage either through public programs or private insurers. The decision was authored by liberal Justice Stephen Breyer.

The justices did not decide broader legal questions raised in the case about whether a key Obamacare provision was unconstitutional and, if so, whether the rest of the statute should be struck down. The provision, called the "individual mandate," originally required Americans to obtain health insurance or pay a financial penalty.

"Today's U.S. Supreme Court decision is a major victory for all Americans benefiting from this groundbreaking and lifechanging law," said Democratic President Joe Biden, whose administration opposed the lawsuit.

With three major challenges to Obamacare now having been resolved by the justices, Biden added, "it is time to move forward and keeping building on this landmark law." Biden also encouraged more Americans to use Obamacare to obtain coverage.

Polling data has shown that Obamacare has become increasing popular among Americans, including Republicans.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican who led the challenge, vowed to continue to fight Obamacare. The individual mandate, Paxton wrote on Twitter, "was unconstitutional when it was enacted and it is still unconstitutional."

The law was the signature domestic policy achievement of Democratic former President Barack Obama, who Biden served with as vice president.