State officials and Minnesota health insurers are encouraging sign-ups through the MNsure exchange despite arguments Tuesday at the U.S. Supreme Court over the future of the federal Affordable Care Act.
A final decision isn't expected until next year in the court case, which argues the federal health law is unconstitutional because Congress zeroed out the statute's tax penalty for individuals who don't buy mandated coverage.
Some health care stocks gained value Tuesday after questioning by justices suggested the court would not strike down the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which launched in 2013 government-run insurance exchanges including MNsure as online marketplaces for coverage.
Legal challenges to the law over the years have created uncertainty for consumers, yet signing up for health insurance is the only way to ensure comprehensive coverage for 2021, said Nate Clark, the chief executive of the state's MNsure exchange, during a call with reporters.
"As of today, the ACA is the law of the land and so our assumption is that all consumers who want to be covered should come through open enrollment," Clark said. The sign-up period started Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 22.
Nonprofit health plans that sell coverage in Minnesota's individual market reinforced the message on Tuesday.
Officials with Minnetonka-based Medica said in a statement that it's "extremely unlikely that the Supreme Court would render any decision that would immediately impact coverage or the availability of subsidies."
Major components of the ACA should remain in place, according to officials at Bloomington-based HealthPartners. They added in a statement: "In the meantime, there is no impact to insurance coverage now, and we encourage members to continue to sign up."