Federal Judge Rules Affordable Care Act Is Unconstitutional Without Insurance-Coverage Penalty

WASHINGTON—The Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional without its insurance-coverage penalty, a Texas federal judge ruled Friday, thrusting the embattled health law’s future and coverage for millions of Americans into question.

U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor ruled that the main provisions of the Affordable Care Act should be struck down after Republicans repealed its insurance-coverage penalty. The Texas federal judge’s decision could endanger coverage of tens of millions of Americans.