WASHINGTON ¨C U.S. Supreme Court justices on Tuesday appeared sympathetic to claims made by health insurers seeking $12 billion from the federal government under a program set up by the Obamacare law aimed at encouraging them to offer medical coverage to previously uninsured Americans.
The justices heard a one-hour oral argument over a challenge by a group of insurers of a lower court¡¯s ruling that Congress had suspended the government¡¯s obligation to make such payments. The insurers have said that ruling, if allowed to stand, would let the government pull a ¡°bait-and-switch¡± and withhold money the companies were promised.
The court¡¯s four liberal justices, in addition to Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, all asked questions indicating they are inclined to vote for the insurers.
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