Backup Plans If Individual Mandate is Struck Down (Politico)

On March 26, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments to decide the fate of the health law, but it might not be an all-or-nothing decision. The individual mandate portion could get struck down leaving the rest of the law in place. Should that happen, an automatic enrollment in employer’s health insurance could be the next-best solution. An auto-enrollment requirement has the attention of health policy experts because of its subtle simplicity in reaching some of the uninsured who would be covered by the individual mandate. The mandate would require nearly all Americans to purchases health insurance or pay a penalty. Getting as many people enrolled in health care as possible is critical if Congress wants to keep the portion of the law that provides coverage to people with pre-existing conditions.