A federal judge in Texas said on Friday that the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) individual coverage mandate is unconstitutional and that the rest of the law therefore cannot stand.

Legal experts say the ruling won't immediately affect Americans' health coverage, and a group of states led by California is already vowing to appeal.

“Today’s ruling is an assault on 133 million Americans with preexisting conditions, on the 20 million Americans who rely on the ACA for healthcare, and on America’s faithful progress toward affordable healthcare for all Americans,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.

Governor Jerry Brown was more to the point. "This Texas judge has no right to deprive millions of Californians of their health care by invalidating the Affordable Care Act. California will vigorously fight this wanton and cruel action,” Brown said.

Becerra also pointed out ““The ACA has already survived more than 70 unsuccessful repeal attempts and withstood scrutiny in the Supreme Court.”

The ruling and expected appeal sets up another cliffhanger in which the fate of the law, which Republicans have unsuccessfully tried to repeal for years, will likely once again ultimately lie with the Supreme Court. (INT and CNN)

Story Date: December 17, 2018