California Fought For Obamacare And Won. What’s At Stake?

FILE - In this April 1, 2020, file photo a health care worker leaves Cedar Mountain Post Acute nursing facility in Yucaipa, Calif.
Chris Carlson

California has wholeheartedly embraced the Affordable Care Act — it advertises it, it invests in it, it protects it.

It even went to court for it. And won.

Today, in a 7-2 decision in California et al. v. Texas, the Supreme Court voted to reject the latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act. Meaning Obamacare stays.

“Now, 20+ million Americans can keep their healthcare coverage. And those with pre-existing conditions can take a deep sigh of relief,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a tweet following the Supreme Court’s decision.

While not all states embraced the law, California implemented it fully — and built on it. The Golden State had the most at stake.

Here’s what you need to know about California’s gains through the Affordable Care Act.

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Ana is a Sacramento-based health reporter. She joined CalMatters in 2020 after four years at Kaiser Health News, where she covered California health care and policy. She started her reporting career at McClatchy’s Merced Sun-Star. Her work has also appeared in The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today and many other state and national news outlets.
CalMatters is a nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters.