In Kennedy v. Braidwood Management, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a vital provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), reaffirming the requirement that group health plans cover preventive services recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) without cost-sharing for patients.
In response to the decision, Millicent Gorham, CEO of the Alliance for Women’s Health & Prevention (AWHP), issued the following statement:
“The Supreme Court has upheld a vital provision of the Affordable Care Act that ensures insurance coverage for preventive care. This means continued access to preventive health services that keep Americans healthy: cancer screenings, mental health support, chronic disease checks, and maternal care.
Preventive care is an important tool for Americans’ health and well-being. It prevents disease, improves health outcomes, reduces healthcare costs, and ultimately saves lives. It’s critical to achieving a healthier America.
But our work is not done. We are concerned about the potential politicization of preventive healthcare — which would put the health of millions at risk. AWHP and its partners remain committed to protecting and strengthening policies that ensure access to preventive care for all women and girls. We urge policymakers to build on this moment by continuing to protect and advance affordable and comprehensive preventive healthcare for Americans.”
Ensuring Americans can continue accessing preventive care without cost-sharing is critical. AWHP’s recent survey highlights how affordability is one of the most significant barriers to preventive care. Women cite concerns about out-of-pocket costs as one of the top reasons they forgo care.
For example, only 38% of women would get a cervical cancer screening, and just 24% of women would get a lung cancer screening if they were not covered by insurance, underscoring the importance of maintaining this coverage.
AWHP has advocated around this issue several times in the past, including when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit issued a narrow ruling striking down this provision in 2024 and after a Texas district court released a similar ruling in 2023. Previously, we led an open letter signed by 22 national organizations regarding the impact of the initial ruling.
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About AWHP
The Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention is a non-partisan 501(c)(4) non-profit organization working to ensure that all women and girls have access to high-quality preventive care. Our mission is to advance policy that drives equitable access and prevents the burden and progression of disease to improve the lives and health of all women and girls.
For more information, please visit WomensHealthandPrevention.org and follow us on LinkedIn and X @AWHPOrg.