Decision in King v. Burwell will affect everyone

It's been awhile since I vented about the state of health care in the U.S. However, as 2014 winds down, I am very concerned about the King v. Burwell case, which will be decided by the Supreme Court in July 2015.

Since the Affordable Care Act was signed by President Obama in 2010, it has been gradually implemented, culminating with the launch of the (albeit flawed) website that enables folks to sign up for affordable health care. Prior to healthcare.gov's rollout, several other components of ACA were put into place, including provisions that allow children to remain on their parents' health insurance plan until age 26, and preventing insurance companies from withholding coverage for people with preexisting conditions.

Republicans have wasted time and energy trying to overturn ACA, and I would argue that they have succeeded in preventing the law's full implementation, since the majority of states (with Republican governors and/or legislatures) have refused to establish a state health care insurance exchange, and almost half have declined millions in federal funding by not expanding Medicaid.

Ironically, the crux of the King v. Burwell case is that federal subsidies should not be given to folks living in states that did not establish state-run insurance exchanges. Well played, GOP.

Despite the political opposition, a recent poll shows that more Americans are supportive of the ACA. But, ACA's funding is on the line with the King v. Burwell case and, depending on how the Supreme Court rules this summer, it could all unravel.

Preexisting medical conditions affect my entire family, so this is personal for me. If ACA goes away, it will have a negative impact on my children and their future health and well-being. All any of us can do is hope and pray that the Supreme Court justices will deliver a commonsense ruling that will keep this important legislation in place for every American.