Universal healthcare refers to an approach that offers health services to everyone regardless of their ability to pay, funded through taxes. This may include access to primary healthcare and prescription drugs.
Obamacare refers to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010 that altered some aspects of American healthcare.
The basic idea
Universal healthcare aims to ensure everyone can access medical services, regardless of income. This goal may be reached through various means; for instance, countries can implement systems administered solely or jointly by government and private actors; some nations utilize single payer models whereby government pays all medical costs directly while other nations achieve universal coverage by mandating that everyone purchase health insurance with tax breaks provided to help cover associated costs.
Obamacare seeks to improve the quality of health insurance in America by guaranteeing people receive good value for their premium dollars. It does this by mandating that companies spend at least 80% of premium dollars directly on actual medical care and quality improvements rather than on expenses such as advertising, overhead and bonuses for executives. Furthermore, most Americans must purchase health coverage or face penalties; additionally substantial subsidies exist to help lower-income individuals afford healthcare plans.
The law
The Affordable Care Act encourages more people to obtain health insurance by providing subsidies for those with lower incomes, requiring all plans to cover certain services such as cancer screening and preventive care, prohibiting insurers from denying coverage due to preexisting conditions, allowing parents to keep their children on their health plan until they’re 26 and providing online marketplaces known as exchanges where individuals can shop for private health plans – in turn helping states expand their Medicaid programs to cover more people.
It also removes lifetime financial caps on health insurance plans and bans cancellations for preexisting conditions, making them more affordable. Furthermore, the ACA makes prescription drugs more accessible.
Whoever lacks health insurance must pay a tax penalty. Proponents of the law believe it prevents people from deferring needed medical care because they fear paying the cost, while preventive screenings such as cholesterol or diabetes tests may prevent more expensive and debilitating care later on.
The effect
Obamacare was designed to ensure everyone had access to affordable health insurance coverage. It requires people either have coverage, or pay a fine; and provides subsidies based on income so people can afford coverage. Furthermore, this law prohibits lifetime monetary caps on health plans, requires insurers cover preexisting conditions, and encourages states to expand Medicaid programs.
The Affordable Care Act mandates that insurance companies spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars on medical services, which helps drive down prices for consumers and make preventive care easier to access; ultimately lowering health costs over time. Additionally, ACA makes screenings and preventive services more widely accessible and provides consumers with greater opportunities for screenings that could save them money in future healthcare expenses.
Opponents of the Affordable Care Act have complained about how it violates Americans’ privacy while creating costly government bureaucracies. Furthermore, universal healthcare would force healthy individuals to pay for those with medical needs who may be unhealthier; something which goes against traditional American values of individual responsibility and choice.
The future
Obamacare continues to exist despite facing many challenges and being exposed as unconstitutional, as evidenced by its lower premiums, elimination of lifetime limits on policies, and guaranteeing coverage to over 133 million Americans with preexisting conditions who previously would have been turned away or charged more for coverage. Furthermore, Medicare Advantage enrollees now benefit more and hospital payment rates have seen reduction.
No matter what happens, some will still need help paying for health insurance. They will continue receiving federal subsidies or tax credits that help them afford health plans while the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that everyone have insurance or pay a penalty remains in effect.
It will be up to the next administration to expand on the successes of the Affordable Care Act through non-legislative measures like lengthening enrollment periods, encouraging remaining states to expand Medicaid, and eliminating barriers like work requirements; something which may require significant shifts in political landscape.