Key Points From the Supreme Court Affordable Care Act Ruling

1. The 'Individual Mandate' which requires most of the population to purchase health insurance starting in 2014 or pay a penalty was upheld
2. Five Justices agreed to uphold the 'Individual Mandate' as part of the law due to Congress' constitutional power to tax
3. Five Justices agreed to reject the constitutionality of the 'Individual Mandate' as part of the law under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution
4. States will now have the option of refusing to participate in the health law's Medicaid expansion program without losing their current Medicaid funds.
5. The Court ruled that Congress acted constitutionally in offering states funds to expand Medicaid coverage
6. Minority: Two Justices agreed to uphold the Medicaid expansion in its entrirety
7. Three Justices agreed that offering states fund to expand Medicaid coverage was constitutional, however, the provision withholding funds for non-compliance exceeded Congress’s power under the Spending Clause
8. Minority: Four Justices dissented that the entire provision be struck down
9. Medicaid expansion bottom line: expansion is constitutional but states can opt out of program without all funds funds being cut off for non-compliance