The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing a case that could change the landscape of preventive health care coverage in the U.S. The challenge, brought by conservative employers in Texas, argues that the panel recommending no-cost preventive services under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional because its members are not confirmed by the Senate.
At stake is whether insurers must continue covering services like depression screenings and HIV-prevention drugs without copays. The Biden and Trump administrations both defended the mandate, but with different legal arguments.
A ruling that weakens the task force’s authority could lead to insurers dropping certain preventive treatments. While contraception and vaccines are managed by other panels, lower courts are already reviewing those bodies too, meaning a broader precedent may be set.
Advocates warn a rollback could particularly impact access to HIV-prevention medication, which costs up to $30,000 annually without insurance. The case could also open the door to further religious exemptions from coverage. A decision is expected later this year.
