American families face tremendous costs associated with health care costs, yet the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has proven a valuable ally in lowering these expenses and improving quality.
Even with these improvements, the Affordable Care Act still faces significant hurdles. According to KFF Health Tracking Poll results, Americans remain divided along party lines regarding their perceptions of this law.
It has helped millions of people get health insurance
The Affordable Care Act has brought coverage and reduced health care costs for millions, while also protecting preexisting conditions from being denied coverage or charged more than other customers. Furthermore, financial support is provided so consumers can afford their premiums more easily while all plans must cover essential benefits and preventive services without charging patients separately.
The new law has also improved the quality of insurance for many individuals, creating new consumer protections such as prohibiting annual or lifetime limits; mandating that plans limit consumers’ out-of-pocket costs; and mandating that all marketplace plans include substance use disorder (SUD) treatment as an essential benefit.
Since the Affordable Care Act’s passage, the share of adults without health insurance has decreased significantly and large majorities of Americans support key elements of its law. Furthermore, its implementation has helped improve children’s healthcare as well as increase job access for low-income parents.
It has helped reduce the uninsured rate
The Affordable Care Act has greatly helped reduce the uninsured rate by prohibiting insurers from denying coverage or charging excessive premiums to those with preexisting conditions, which has allowed those suffering from diabetes, congestive heart failure and other illnesses to purchase comprehensive health coverage without lifetime or annual caps on coverage imposed. Plans also need to cover preventive services without cost sharing as per regulations; young adults can remain on their parent’s plan until 26.
Employers are required by law to offer coverage or face a tax penalty, making the ACA an easier way for Americans to access affordable coverage; however, many have elected not to purchase it despite its availability. Furthermore, CBO estimates that eliminating penalties would decrease marketplace enrollment growth.
The Affordable Care Act is helping Americans lead longer, healthier lives by shifting our medical system’s emphasis from treatment to prevention. As a result, American families will spend less time away from work and can contribute more towards our economy.
It has helped increase access to care
Before the Affordable Care Act was implemented, many people with preexisting conditions couldn’t obtain health insurance as most insurers refused them coverage due to their health status. Now under the ACA, these individuals have guaranteed access to affordable coverage that provides comprehensive benefits as well as meeting minimum actuarial value standards and minimum actuarial value standards; moreover, its individual mandate helps lower average premium costs.
Even with such gains, however, the Affordable Care Act has failed to contain rising health care costs. Many of its delivery system reforms have fallen short of expectations while mechanisms intended to constrain federal costs have been abandoned altogether.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has greatly increased access to care by making insurance more cost-effective, as well as improving family economic security. Unfortunately, however, its benefits could be at stake should the court case challenging it be upheld; however, its supporters are working tirelessly to defend and uphold it.
It has helped reduce the cost of health care
The Affordable Care Act has made it easier for Americans to secure affordable health coverage by opening marketplaces and providing financial aid. A recent study demonstrated how access to health insurance provided under the ACA reduced medical expenses and debt for low-income Americans while simultaneously increasing financial security as illness no longer leads to bankruptcy.
The Affordable Care Act also brought with it new consumer protections, such as bans on annual and lifetime limits, restrictions on insurers charging women more for coverage, and the option for young adults to remain on their parents’ plan until age 26. Furthermore, reforms of Medicare reimbursement mechanisms are helping reduce hospital costs through this law.
However, the Affordable Care Act has failed to curb high and rapidly rising health care costs. While its major changes to individual insurance market helped millions afford coverage, they also forced many healthy consumers with incomes too high to qualify for subsidies out of it altogether.
