WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US Supreme Court’s possible decision against US President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, would cause serious damage to the healthcare system, as there are no other plans at the moment that would replace the healthcare reform, United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell said in a letter to lawmakers on Tuesday.
"While we are confident in our position, a decision against the administration in the King case would cause massive damage," Burwell said. "We know of no administrative action that could, and therefore we have no plans that would, undo the massive damage to our health care system that would be caused by an adverse decision."
Depending on the court’s decision, more than 13 million people could lose subsidies in 2016, according to a Kaiser Foundation report.
In February US Senators Richard Burr and Orrin Hatch and US Representative Fred Upton, introduced legislation to repeal US President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, and replace it with new patient-focused reforms.
The White House insists that the Affordable Care Act is a much-needed law that prohibits insurance companies from discriminating against people with pre-existing conditions, saves money, and insures higher quality care.
At present, two government programs, Medicare and Medicaid, implemented through Obamacare provide insurance to 123 million US citizens. Nearly 50 million elderly and Americans with disabilities rely on Medicare, according to the White House.
