Unlike in 2012, the latest case, King v. Burwell, was not a challenge to the constitutionality of the law's centerpiece that requires most Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty.  In a 5-4 ruling, the court that year decided the law could continue, albeit with a twist:  states could elect not to expand Medicaid.

The latest case challenges whether tax credits to help low-income Americans afford coverage are valid in the approximately three dozen states where the marketplace is operated by the federal government, as well as on the health insurance exchanges that have been established by a minority of the states.

Last week, in a 6-3 decision the Supreme Court saved the controversial Affordable Care Act (ACA) law known as ObamaCare.  The landmark ruling holds that the ACA authorized federal tax credits for eligible insureds - not only in the states that established their own exchanges - but also in the states that have been using the federal marketplace accessed online at www.healthcare.gov.

The State of Florida leads the nation in ACA enrollments, with approximately 1.5 million 2015 enrollments.  Florida uses the federal marketplace and is one of 21 states that have not chosen to expand the Medicad program.  The overwhelming majority of ACA enrollees on the federal marketplace receive premium subsidies (in many cases nearly the entire health insurance premium), so there was a lot at stake in today's ruling.

Chief Justice John Roberts issued the majority ruling, and once again was an unlikely hero in saving Obama's signature legislative achievement.  He was joined by Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is often the High Court's swing vote, and the four liberal Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.  Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the dissenting opinion and was joined by Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.

This case hinged around specific language written into the 2010 health care law.  Referring to the sliding scale premium subsidies, or tax credits, that would be granted to eligible Americans based on their household income, the law stipulated that these credits would be available on health insurance exchanges "established by the state."  In his dissenting opinion, Justice Scalia wrote that the decision "rewrites the law" and that "we should start calling this law SCOTUScare." 

2016 Enrollment Periods for Medicare and ACA Plans

Open Enrollment for Medicare Health and Drug Plans

* The Medicare Open Enrollment Period for 2016 begins in less than four months!  The Open Enrollment Period is between October 15 - December 7 for plan effective dates of January 1, 2016.

* During this period changes can be made to your Medicare Advantage (Part C) health plan or your Medicare Part D Drug plan; or you can apply for either of these programs for the first time if you chose not to enroll in the past

* Click here for the official government booklet explaining Medicare Part C and D Enrollment Periods 

Open Enrollment for ACA Plans

* November 1, 2015: Open Enrollment starts - first day you can enroll in a 2016 Marketplace plan.

* January 1, 2016:  First date 2016 coverage can start.

* January 31, 2016:  2016 Open Enrollment ends.

* Note that if you do not enroll in a 2016 plan by January 31, 2016, you cannot enroll in a health insurance plan for 2016 unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

• There's no limited enrollment period for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). You can apply any time.
• There's also no limited enrollment period for small businesses to enroll in SHOP coverage for their employees. You can apply any time.

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