Supreme Court Obamacare ruling could affect Colorado, eventually

<p>(AP Photo/Andrew&nbsp;<span data-scayt-word="Harnik">Harnik</span>)</p>
<p>University of Maryland medical student Sarah Britz, center, and others, rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, March 4, 2015 in Washington, as the court was hearing arguments in King v. Burwell, a major test of President Barack Obama&#039;s health overhaul.</p>
Photo: Obamacare rally at Supreme Court (AP Photo)
University of Maryland medical student Sarah Britz, center, and others, rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Wednesday, March 4, 2015 in Washington, as the court was hearing arguments in King v. Burwell, a major test of President Barack Obama's health overhaul.

Colorado has its own exchange and in the short run, the Supreme Court case wouldn’t affect the state. It could make a difference, however, in the long run.

“If the Supreme Court tosses out the subsidies in 36 states, boy, that’s a maybe lethal blow to Obamacare, and it could impact Colorado too," said T.R. Reid, the Denver-based author of a bestselling book on healthcare.

Health advocates say if the subsidies are struck down, health insurance premiums could spike everywhere including Colorado and millions of people in other states would suddenly lose subsidies that make coverage affordable.

Reid predicted that would force Congress, and a new president, to fix it in a few years. That fix, he said, could impact Colorado.

A ruling is expected in June.