October Term 2014 · Docket 14-114
Do federal exchanges qualify for tax credits?
the sides that brought the case argue the law limits credits to state-run exchanges. The government argues the law allows credits on all exchanges.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Carvin argued the plain language dictates the result.
General Verrilli argued federalism values support the government view.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 38-4 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 14-48 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 14-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 30-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 30-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 10-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 42-48 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 42-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 36-28 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 36-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-16
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether the Affordable Care Act grants tax credits to people buying insurance on federal exchanges. the sides that brought the case claim the text restricts credits to state exchanges. The government claims the text allows credits on any exchange.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 14-48 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 14-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 36-28 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 36-28
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 4, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 30-30
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down credits for federal exchange buyers.
The government wants the Court to keep credits for federal exchange buyers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 14-48 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 14-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 36-28 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 36-28
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute text limits credits to state-established exchanges.
The government argues the statute structure supports credits on all exchanges.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 14-48 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 14-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 36-28 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 36-28
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if each plaintiff has a concrete stake.
Justice Breyer asked about the term established by a State.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 38-4 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 30-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 30-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 10-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 42-48 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 42-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-16
Why it matters
This dispute determines who receives tax credits for health insurance. It affects millions of people buying coverage on federal exchanges. The outcome shapes the financial structure of the health law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 14-48 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 14-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 36-28 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 36-28
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 38-4 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 28-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 28-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 30-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 30-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 10-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-40 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 42-48 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 42-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 26-32 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 26-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 30-24 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 30-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 38-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 38-16
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 14-48 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 14-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 36-28 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 36-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-26 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 14-48 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 14-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 36-28 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 36-28
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.