In a 6-3 decision, the United States Supreme Court has overruled the lower court decision in King vs. Burwell which reviewed key portions of the Affordable Care Act (”ACA”). The Court’s ruling in the matter upheld the validity of the federally-funded insurance exchanges and insures that the penalty provisions of the ACA will remain in force and applicable to employers. Specifically, the US Supreme Court has ruled that US government can continue subsidizing insurance in states that have not set up their own insurance exchanges. Had the Court ruled against such a practice, individuals in most states would have been unable to obtain subsidized insurance, a pre-requisite in order for the penalty provisions of the ACA to apply to employers. Given the Court’s ruling, employers must meet their ACA obligations or risk significant penalties in 2015 and beyond.