Jennifer Staman
Legislative Attorney
Cynthia Brougher
Legislative Attorney
Edward C. Liu
Legislative Attorney
Erika K. Lunder
Legislative Attorney
Kenneth R. Thomas
Legislative Attorney
As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148, as amended, Congress enacted an “minimum essential coverage requirement,” a provision compelling certain individuals to have a minimum level of health insurance (i.e., an “individual mandate”). Individuals who fail to do so are subject to a monetary penalty, administered through the tax code. Although the federal government provides health coverage for many individuals through federal programs such as Medicare, it had never before required individuals to purchase health insurance.
This report analyzes certain constitutional issues raised by compelling individuals to purchase health insurance. It addresses the authority of Congress to pass a law of this nature under its taxing power or its power to regulate interstate commerce. With regard to the taxing power, the requirement to purchase health insurance might be construed as a tax and upheld so long as it was found to comply with the constitutional restrictions imposed on direct and indirect taxes. On the other hand, opponents of the minimum essential coverage requirement may argue that since it is imposed conditionally and may be avoided by compliance with regulations set out in the statute, that the requirement may be more accurately described as a penalty. If so, the taxing power alone might not provide Congress the constitutional authority to support this provision.
In evaluating under the minimum essential coverage requirement under the Commerce Clause, a court may rely on Supreme Court precedent and look to several factors to determine whether the minimum essential coverage requirement passes constitutional muster. Among other things, a court may evaluate whether the requirement is a regulation of economic activity. One could argue that the requirement to purchase health insurance is economic in nature because it regulates how an individual participates in the health care market, through insurance or otherwise. On the other hand, it may be argued that the minimum essential coverage requirement goes beyond the bounds of the clause, because while regulation of the health insurance industry or the health care system is economic activity, regulating a choice to purchase health insurance is not.
It has been questioned whether the requirement to have health insurance might violate certain protections found under the U.S. Constitution. This report discusses how a court might evaluate a challenge to the minimum essential coverage requirement on Fifth Amendment due process, takings clause, or equal protection grounds, as well as under the Tenth Amendment. This report also addresses whether the exceptions to the minimum essential coverage requirement to purchase health insurance satisfy First Amendment freedom of religion protections.
Several lawsuits have been filed that challenge the minimum essential coverage requirement on constitutional grounds. For example, in Florida v. HHS, attorneys general and governors in 20 states as well as others brought an action against the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief from certain provisions of PPACA. On October 14, 2010, the district court held that the claims against the minimum essential coverage requirement could proceed to the next stage of litigation. In Virginia ex rel. Cuccinelli v. Sebelius, the Virginia attorney general filed a separate lawsuit challenging the federal requirement to purchase health insurance. On December 13, 2010, the judge in the Virginia case found that the minimum essential coverage requirement is unconstitutional. In contrast, two federal district courts have upheld the minimum essential coverage requirement as a constitutional exercise of the Commerce Clause. Many expect that one or more of these cases will reach the Supreme Court.
Date of Report: December 16, 2010
Number of Pages: 31
Order Number: R40725
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Legislative Attorney
Cynthia Brougher
Legislative Attorney
Edward C. Liu
Legislative Attorney
Erika K. Lunder
Legislative Attorney
Kenneth R. Thomas
Legislative Attorney
As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, P.L. 111-148, as amended, Congress enacted an “minimum essential coverage requirement,” a provision compelling certain individuals to have a minimum level of health insurance (i.e., an “individual mandate”). Individuals who fail to do so are subject to a monetary penalty, administered through the tax code. Although the federal government provides health coverage for many individuals through federal programs such as Medicare, it had never before required individuals to purchase health insurance.
This report analyzes certain constitutional issues raised by compelling individuals to purchase health insurance. It addresses the authority of Congress to pass a law of this nature under its taxing power or its power to regulate interstate commerce. With regard to the taxing power, the requirement to purchase health insurance might be construed as a tax and upheld so long as it was found to comply with the constitutional restrictions imposed on direct and indirect taxes. On the other hand, opponents of the minimum essential coverage requirement may argue that since it is imposed conditionally and may be avoided by compliance with regulations set out in the statute, that the requirement may be more accurately described as a penalty. If so, the taxing power alone might not provide Congress the constitutional authority to support this provision.
In evaluating under the minimum essential coverage requirement under the Commerce Clause, a court may rely on Supreme Court precedent and look to several factors to determine whether the minimum essential coverage requirement passes constitutional muster. Among other things, a court may evaluate whether the requirement is a regulation of economic activity. One could argue that the requirement to purchase health insurance is economic in nature because it regulates how an individual participates in the health care market, through insurance or otherwise. On the other hand, it may be argued that the minimum essential coverage requirement goes beyond the bounds of the clause, because while regulation of the health insurance industry or the health care system is economic activity, regulating a choice to purchase health insurance is not.
It has been questioned whether the requirement to have health insurance might violate certain protections found under the U.S. Constitution. This report discusses how a court might evaluate a challenge to the minimum essential coverage requirement on Fifth Amendment due process, takings clause, or equal protection grounds, as well as under the Tenth Amendment. This report also addresses whether the exceptions to the minimum essential coverage requirement to purchase health insurance satisfy First Amendment freedom of religion protections.
Several lawsuits have been filed that challenge the minimum essential coverage requirement on constitutional grounds. For example, in Florida v. HHS, attorneys general and governors in 20 states as well as others brought an action against the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Treasury, and Labor, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief from certain provisions of PPACA. On October 14, 2010, the district court held that the claims against the minimum essential coverage requirement could proceed to the next stage of litigation. In Virginia ex rel. Cuccinelli v. Sebelius, the Virginia attorney general filed a separate lawsuit challenging the federal requirement to purchase health insurance. On December 13, 2010, the judge in the Virginia case found that the minimum essential coverage requirement is unconstitutional. In contrast, two federal district courts have upheld the minimum essential coverage requirement as a constitutional exercise of the Commerce Clause. Many expect that one or more of these cases will reach the Supreme Court.
Date of Report: December 16, 2010
Number of Pages: 31
Order Number: R40725
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
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