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By Alex Nussbaum - 2012-05-30T16:47:51Z

The U.S. Supreme Court probably wont overturn President Barack Obamas entire health-care law, and provisions forcing insurers to cover more medical care may survive no matter who wins the November elections, Aetna Inc. (AET)s chief executive officer said.

The health-care overhauls future hinges on the outcome of this years races for Congress and the White House and, beyond that, discussions over how to trim the U.S. debt and budget deficit, Mark Bertolini, head of the nations third-biggest health insurer, said today during an investor conference.

The 2010 law will extend health coverage to about 32 million Americans by 2016, at a net cost of $1 trillion, the Congressional Budget Office estimates. If the law survives the courts decision expected next month, Republicans are likely to go after its funding next year, especially if they keep control of the House while retaking the U.S. Senate, Bertolini said.

Youll see a battle through the budget process with Republicans vying to defund the Affordable Care Act, he said at a Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. conference in New York.

The court is considering a challenge to the laws requirement that all Americans get health insurance or pay a penalty. If thats found unconstitutional, the justices might strike down the entire legislation. Bertolini said he expected a more limited ruling.

No Republican in Congress voted for the health-care act in 2010 and many of the lawmakers have introduced bills that would repeal part or all of it. The partys presumptive presidential nominee, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, has said he intends to eliminate the health overhaul should he defeat Obama.

Even if Republicans control Congress and win the White House in November, many of the laws regulations will survive in some form, Bertolini said. That includes provisions allowing parents to keep children on their health plan until age 26 as well as a ban on benefit limits.

Youll see this big movement for repeal but youll very quickly hear replace he said. Nobody on either side of the aisle is willing to tell families, you know that 26-year-old you got covered under your policy? You cant do that anymore. Or You know that kid thats survived cancer and is hitting his limits on health-care costs? Were going to put the limits back on the kid.

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Aetna CEO Says Supreme Court Won’t Drop Entire Health Law