West Suburban Teen Clinic Welcomes Supreme Court’s Health Care Ruling

Editor's Note: submitted the following comments about Thursday's Supreme Court ruling that upheld key provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

West Suburban Teen Clinic is pleased that the US Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act today. We understand very well the impact that going without health insurance or having inadequate coverage can have on a young person and their family. It is imperative that more families have the coverage that they need to make healthy choices and remain healthy. Our mission is to improve the health of our communities and we firmly believe that ensuring access to health insurance is one way to do this. There are key pieces of the Affordable Care Act that will make a significant difference in the lives of WSTC clients; allowing young people to stay on their parents’ insurance longer, eliminating many co-pays, ensuring preventative health screenings are free, simplifying the referral process and providing coverage to more low-income young people and their families. Every year, over 3000 uninsured clients visit WSTC and are provided free or sliding fee scale care.  

Leah Hebert, Executive Director, has this to say: “This decision will have tangible affects of the lives of young people and their families. We know that adolescents use the health care system the least out of any age group and we need to make health care as accessible as possible for them. Every day, we see teens and young adults in our clinics who cannot afford basic preventative health care. Choosing to go without treatments or check-ups is something that no family should ever have to do.”