Obamacare, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is currently being reviewed under the Supreme Court for the third time. While the ACA is not a perfect solution to the ongoing healthcare crisis, under the current political climate it should not be weakened. 
With healthcare being a hot topic of discussion it’s no surprise the ACA is facing legal scrutiny again. 
In 2017 congress got rid of the individual mandate that required a penalty for not having health insurance, according to The New York Times. As a result, Republican officials have claimed the ACA should now be obsolete since the abolishment of the mandate makes the rest of the acts purpose “useless.”
While that argument is weak, it isn’t even logical considering that some states still require their citizens to have health insurance. If you don’t have health insurance these states enforce this rule by requiring you to pay penalties during tax season. 
Not only that, but it seems as though Republicans have an ulterior motive with trying to get rid of the ACA in the courts. The ACA helped improve healthcare for Americans including, “guaranteed coverage for pre-existing medical conditions, emergency care, prescription drugs and maternity care.” Deeming the entirety of the ACA unconstitutional would leave those who benefit from the Act’s most progressive provisions astray.
Unless a more progressive healthcare reform that expands on the ACA, such as a Medicare for All proposal, passes through congress, it’s crucial to keep the ACA.
If the Supreme Court doesn’t make the right decision, college students can also be negatively impacted. Specifically students who qualify for the ACA subsidies would have to pay more out-of-pocket for insurance. 
Under Augustana’s website, student insurance is currently $2,365 a year, which is already an unreasonable price as it is, but students who make less than 400 percent of the poverty line may currently qualify for subsidies to reduce their costs. For students who work paycheck-to-paycheck the smallest amount of financial help makes all the difference, and it’d be a shame to add more financial stress to these students. 
Even for students who aren’t currently financially struggling, the ACA contains the popular provision that allows people under 26 to stay under their parents insurance. Without this provision, many students would have to struggle to find health insurance and take on the financial burden themselves. 
This provision is also a huge help for those who are fresh out of college and paying off their student loans. In other words, having a few years where you don’t have to worry about health insurance costs post-graduation makes it slightly easier to pay off student loans in a more timely manner.
With that being said, the courts better embody the idea of judicial restraint by keeping the ACA intact.