Supreme Court Sets Oral Arguments on Health Care Reform Law

The Supreme Court has set aside three days at the end of March to hear oral arguments in lawsuits challenging the legality of the health care reform law.

The court announced Dec. 19 that it will hear five and a half hours of arguments over three days.

On March 26, the justices will hear arguments on whether a challenge to the law’s individual mandate that requires individuals to enroll in a qualified plan or pay a financial penalty can be imposed before the provision’s January 2014 effective date.

On March 27, the court will hear arguments on whether the individual mandate is constitutional.

On March 28, the court will hear arguments on whether the entire law can stand if the individual mandate were to be found unconstitutional.

A ruling is expected by the end of the court’s term in June.

The high court in November agreed to review the legality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Jerry Geisel writes for Business Insurance, a sister publication of Workforce Management. To comment, email editors@workforce.com.

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