Obamacare (2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act), known more commonly by its acronym as Obamacare, has made many positive strides towards improving our healthcare system. Yet despite these advances it remains apparent that many Americans remain uninsured.
Therefore, aspiring physicians must become well informed on the Affordable Care Act to be able to answer questions related to it during interviews.
1. Know the Basics
The Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare, has brought numerous changes to healthcare in America. Among its goals are minimizing uninsured individuals by expanding Medicaid eligibility and creating a health insurance marketplace where individuals can compare coverage options; as well as lowering healthcare costs through premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions for lower-income people.
Though progress has been made, the Affordable Care Act still faces many obstacles and will remain an area of contention for years. Therefore, it is essential that you gain an understanding of its basic structure and why it was passed into law.
Becoming familiar with the Affordable Care Act and key healthcare issues before your interview can be extremely useful. One such resource that provides an overview is the Congressional Dish podcast. In addition, reading up on current events related to ACA allows for informed conversation during an interview.
2. Understand the Law
Aspiring medical students may benefit from brushing up on their knowledge of the Affordable Care Act (commonly referred to as Obamacare). This law instituted numerous changes to healthcare system and has become the subject of several heated discussions over time.
To fully grasp this law, it’s necessary to read it from cover-to-cover. While reading legislation can be time-consuming and taxing, understanding our healthcare system requires it. To make things even simpler for you, Jen Briney of Congressional Dish has written articles on the Affordable Care Act that you can download directly onto your computer as well as outlining all its key provisions on her show so you have a comprehensive grasp. ACA may be complex legislation that takes some research to fully comprehend, yet an understanding of it could prove invaluable when discussing it during medical school interviews!
3. Know Your Options
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 is at the core of healthcare reform in America, enacting numerous changes to American healthcare systems such as expanding health coverage through federal and state Marketplaces for millions more Americans.
Interviewers may inquire about your views on the Affordable Care Act and efforts by the current administration to undermine it. You should prepare for such inquiries by reading up on both sides.
The 2014 NHIS will release coverage information as of the date of interview (February, March or April) for each month in 2013 and 2014. However, due to many interviews being completed prior to March 31 – when formal open enrollment period ended – this release won’t provide a comprehensive picture of how the Affordable Care Act affected coverage; moreover it is difficult to distinguish between people enrolling in plans at that moment versus people uninsured at that moment in time.
4. Know the Cons
The Affordable Care Act, commonly known by its acronym Obamacare, is an impressive piece of legislation with both advantages and disadvantages. Since its implementation it has changed the way individuals, families, businesses and insurance companies do business as well as creating new tax provisions which could affect individuals, employers and organizations tax returns.
Before going into an interview, ensure you’re fully informed on all sides of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). A great way to gain a fuller understanding is reading current news articles related to it and considering how you would answer an interviewer’s questions regarding it; being careful not to appear biased when responding. Remembering its complexities can make things challenging!
