Department of Health and Human Services v. Florida (11-398)
Oral argument: March 27, 2012
Appealed from: The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Aug. 12, 2011)
HEALTH CARE, PATIENT PROTECTION AND AFFORDABLE CARE ACT, MINIMUM COVERAGE PROVISION
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s (“Health Care Act”) minimum coverage provision requires that all eligible individuals purchase health care coverage. Beginning in 2014, any failure to purchase coverage will result in a fine. Respondents, two individual citizens, twenty-six states, and the National Federation of Independent Business, claim that the Health Care Act’s minimum coverage provision is unconstitutional as it deprives individuals of the freedom to purchase what they choose, going beyond Congress’s authority under the taxing powers and the Commerce Clause. Petitioner, the United States government, maintains that the minimum coverage provision is a valid way to regulate the rising health care costs that limit many individual’s access to necessary health care services. Continue reading »
