Q. I recently read that a federal court ruled to strike down the Affordable Care Act? Sounds kind of scary if you ask me. How is this going to affect seniors and people with disabilities?

A.You are correct. US District Court Judge Reed O’Connor rendered his decision to invalidate the entire Affordable Care Act. According to O’Connor, the ACA “could no longer stand now that there’s no penalty for Americans who don’t buy insurance.”

If(and that’s a BIG IF) O’Connor’s ruling is ultimately upheld by the Federal Circuit Court and then by the U.S. Supreme Court, it will drastically impact the well-being of older adults, those 50-64 nearing Medicare, frail seniors,and younger people with disabilities.

The ruling came on December 14, on the eve of the deadline for Americans to sign upfor coverage in the federal insurance exchange created by the ACA. At this point, however, nothing will change in health-care services or insurance while the courts consider the issue.

The Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010 and became the signature domestic policyachievement of the Obama administration. The Supreme Court upheld the law in 2012 and again in 2015, and it was modified by Congress in 2017.

According to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, if upheld in both higher courts,” it will be a disaster for tens of millions of American families, especially for people with pre-existing conditions.”

Here are just some of the effects if the judge’s decision is upheld and the ACA is declared completely invalid: