Supreme Court to Hear Challenge on ACA's Free Preventive Care

The Supreme Court is hearing Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, a case challenging the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) mandate that private insurers cover preventive health services, such as cancer screenings and HIV prevention medications, at no cost to patients. The outcome could impact access for nearly 150 million Americans, as studies show almost 30% of privately insured individuals, and nearly half of women, utilize at least one free preventive service annually. The plaintiffs, a group of conservative Christian employers, argue that mandating coverage of certain services, particularly HIV prevention drugs, violates their religious rights and that the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lacks proper constitutional authority. Health experts warn that overturning the mandate could lead to fewer screenings, delayed disease detection, and increased mortality, particularly for cancers and HIV. Advocacy groups emphasize that ending no-cost preventive care would reverse progress in early detection and public health outcomes. A decision is expected in June and could profoundly reshape preventive healthcare in the U.S.