Appeals court hears Obamacare case that could focus 2020 debate

Obamacare faces a three-judge panel Tuesday in New Orleans that will weigh whether the healthcare law is unconstitutional.

The timing of the case means that a decision from the court, and a potential appeal to the Supreme Court after that, could bring Obamacare's future to the center of political debate ahead of the 2020 presidential election. Such an outcome would put President Trump on the spot to argue his vision for an alternative while congressional Democrats would accuse Republicans of being uncommitted to Obamacare's protections for the sick, as they did ahead of the 2018 midterm elections.