The Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare, is a law passed by the Obama administration that provided health insurance for millions of individuals.
Although the law was intended to improve healthcare, some people remain opposed. Why?
1. It is a government program
After years of unsuccessful repeal attempts and Supreme Court challenges, it seems that the Affordable Care Act has finally won over Americans’ hearts and minds.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) ensures everyone has access to health insurance and cannot be denied coverage due to preexisting conditions or cancelled because they get sick. It also assists those facing high medical costs by mandating insurers spend at least 80 percent of their premium dollars on actual medical care, rather than simply padding their profits.
The Affordable Care Act requires businesses with 50 full-time employees or more to offer health insurance or contribute into a government fund for covering healthcare expenses. This law offers relief to small businesses that are facing high healthcare costs.
2. It is a waste of money
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been successful in expanding health coverage and reining in rising healthcare spending. In 2017, alone, the ACA saved $650 billion on health care costs while keeping them below 18 percent of GDP.
Millions of Americans have gained access to affordable health insurance through tax credits, cost-sharing subsidies and Medicaid expansion in many states. Furthermore, the Affordable Care Act requires all plans to include a wide array of free preventive services as well as new protections against discrimination against people with preexisting conditions.
The Affordable Care Act has made it simpler for families to secure health insurance outside the workplace. It extends coverage for children up to age 26, makes maternity and child care more accessible, and eliminates co-pays on most preventive services.
3. It is a scam
Some Americans are opposed to the Affordable Care Act for various reasons. They may feel it does not go far enough in creating a government-run system or gives too much power to private insurance companies.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) strives to make health insurance more accessible for all Americans, regardless of age or health history. Furthermore, it safeguards people with preexisting conditions from being denied coverage by insurers.
However, this has also made it harder for some consumers to obtain affordable health coverage at an acceptable cost. Scam artists take advantage of this confusion by peddling fraudulent health plans and services to vulnerable customers – many of whom are elderly.
Scams come in all forms and sizes, from door-to-door calls to spam email messages. However, according to Kiplinger’s Kim Lankford in June, most fall into one of three categories:
4. It is a bad idea
The Affordable Care Act is not the ideal solution to help people gain health insurance. It has several shortcomings, many of which are poorly understood by the public.
Despite its shortcomings, the Affordable Care Act has enabled millions of people to gain access to health insurance. It has made healthcare coverage more affordable and accessible, as well as stopping some insurance companies from denying coverage or charging more due to preexisting conditions.
Even so, many Americans remain opposed to the Affordable Care Act. This includes conservatives who feel that ACA gives government too much power over health care decisions.
This includes the individual mandate, which requires everyone to purchase health insurance. This aspect of the law is often debated by conservatives. Furthermore, taxes on insurance companies have been implemented; this tax burden falls disproportionately on those without financial resources to purchase coverage.
