Affordable Care Act to remain in place during appeals process

A federal judge who ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional earlier this month has stayed his decision to allow the law to remain in place during the appeals process. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in Texas issued the ruling Sunday saying many Americans would "face great uncertainty" if his decision went into immediate effect. However, he stands by his decision that the lack of an individual mandate and its penalty invalidates the entire law. Open enrollment in the ACA for 2019 coverage just ended on December 15. The judge's move staying his decision stabilizes the market, at least temporarily, for consumers and insurers.