Supreme Court Could Decide Whether to Hear Obamacare Cases Nov. 10

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court could decide as early as Nov. 10 whether to hear a challenge to President Barack Obama's health care overhaul this term.

Federal appeals court rulings on health care from Atlanta, Cincinnati and Richmond are on the agenda for the justices' private conference on Nov. 10.

If they agree then to hear any or all of those cases, the decision would be announced that day or when the court meets in public session the following Monday. Such a timetable would allow the court to hear arguments over the health care law in late March and would give the justices three months to craft their opinions.

The central issue is whether the requirement for individuals to buy insurance or pay a penalty is constitutional.

Earlier this month, the Obama administration ditched a major provision of the health care law, a long-term care insurance plan known as the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports, or CLASS.