The Affordable Care Act was enacted on March 2010. It provided Americans with a better health security through coming up with comprehensive health insurance reforms. The reforms were intended to expand coverage and lower healthcare cost by holding insurance companies accountable. As a result, it promises to enhance the quality of healthcare for the Americans (CCH and Wolters, 2010). This act works in conjunction with two separate pieces of legislation, which are the patient protection and affordable care act, and the healthcare education reconciliation Act of 2010. According to Meltzer (2011), these two acts have helped many low-income earners access medical aid. On March 2012, rules on eligibility and enrollment policies for the coverage of 2014 were put in place. The rules established a framework on the implementation of eligibility for coverage. In addition, guidance on the working of the provisions was provided by the various provisions, which include eligibility, financing, benefits, and coordination with affordable insurance exchange, information technology systems, quality care, and prevention. Vitally, a clear description of the functioning of these provisions is provided in order to enable consumers understand the guidelines and make appropriate decisions on policies to adopt (Meltzer, 2011).
Since the enactment of this act, it has been working in collaboration with other state partners in identifying priorities to be implemented, and providing guidance on changes to be made. On March 2010, CMS came up with two rules that are related to eligibility and enrollment policies. The rules would help in achieving a wide coverage for individuals who are eligible for Medicaid as from 2014 (Journal, 2010).
There are some benefits associated with the Affordable Care Act. For example, the act will assist in the elimination of lifetime limits on medical expenses. In addition, the act prevents insurers from dropping someone's coverage or raising premiums if one falls ill. Furthermore, the act provides that a person’s children can stay on his or her plan up to an age of 26 years. As a result, children are protected by the act (CCH and Wolters, 2010). The care program also cuts on medical and drugs expenses estimated to be approximately $6400 for an individual.
Affordable Care Act has key features that create new provisions for consumer protection. This is enhanced by providing information about the law to the consumer online. The law provides an avenue for consumers to view and compare insurance coverage options, and select the most suitable one. In addition, the act prohibits insurance companies from rescinding coverage (Maxwell, 2012). There are many cases whereby insurance firms try to find errors on customers’ applications in order to justify their reasons for denying payment to a customer when he/she claims compensation. Hence, this act ensures that customers are covered with insurance in case of sickness.
Another feature of the act is that it increases access to affordable care. This is facilitated thorough providing access to insurance to the majority of the uninsured Americans with pre-existent ailments. Notably, the act provides coverage options for individuals who have not been insured for a period of six months (United States, 2010). As a result, such people are also covered with insurance and have access to medical care.
There are various changes that have been carried out on the act since it was enacted. For example, the time allocated to buy 2014 coverage has been extended by a week. Extension of time meant to carry out this activity ensures that consumers are able to purchase the cover in order to eliminate possibilities of having uninsured individuals. Furthermore, there are changes that have been made on the time required to sign up. The provision has increased the time needed to sign up. This helps consumers evade tax penalty imposed on late sign up. The other change was on the enrollment period for 2015 being pushed late whereby many Americans can purchase the 2015 coverage between 15th November, 2014 and 15th January, 2015. This is in contrast to the previous enrollment period of October 15, 2014 to December 7, 2014 (HHS Press Office, 2013).
Despite the benefits of the affordable care act, it has attracted criticism for a number of reasons. Critics from the liberal wing in the United States argue that the law has not achieved much. They claim that it should manage to take U.S. health care system closer to a universal health care system. The law requiring insurers to dedicate 80% of their premiums to health care has also received criticism from the liberals. They perceive this as paving way for a single buyer of the insurance. The law also receives criticism from the right wing in the United States where it is taken as a breach of the federal government power and responsibility. Therefore, it is seen as a disastrous law for the country because it seen as a job killing one (Maxwell, 2012). Clearly, the act has attracted a lot of criticism from different sectors of the country.
Although there is criticism about affordable care act, it has made several significant achievements that should not overlooked. One of the main achievements is ensuring that millions of uninsured people are able to access affordable health insurance cover. This means that a majority of uninsured Americans will get free or low cost health insurance. In addition, the act ensures that no individual can be denied insurance coverage or treatment after falling sick (Williams, McClellan, & Rivlin, 2010). Small businesses are also able to acquire tax credit of up to 50% of their employees. The Affordable Care Act has ensured that young adults can stay on their parents plan until they attain the age of 26. Fundamentally, adults will get low cost insurance and coverage beginning 2014. This will include new preventative services and essential health benefits (U.S GPO, 2010).
Nevertheless, there are several shortcomings that hinder the achievements of the goals of the Affordable Care Act. Primarily, in order to raise the money required for insuring millions of people, new taxes have to be imposed on the earners, which may affect an individual directly or indirectly. The act also demands that insurance companies must cover sick people, and this leads to an increase in the premium cost. Employers’ mandate also requires that by 2015, businesses with over 50 full time employees should pay for health insurance coverage for their employees (United States, 2010). This may lead to an increase in costs incurred by employers. The Provision Emphasizes more on ensuring that people are covered with insurance rather than addressing the cost of care. In conclusion, some adjustments need to be carried out on the act to ensure that the shortcomings are resolved and it achieves its main goals on improving medical care (Williams, McClellan and Rivlin, 2010).
References
CCH Incorporated., & Wolters Kluwer (Firm). (2010). Law, explanation and analysis of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Including Reconciliation Act impact. Chicago, IL: Wolters Kluwer Law & Business.
HHS Press Office (2013, August 1). Obama Administration Launches One-Stop-Shop Website to Educate Business Owners about the Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2013pres/08/20130801a.html
Interested in the Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act?. (October 01, 2010). The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 6, 9, 729-732.
Maxwell, N. L. (2012). The health and wealth of a nation: Employer-based health insurance and the affordable care act. Kalamazoo, Mich: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.
Meltzer, C. C. (January 01, 2011). Summary of the affordable care act. Ajnr. American Journal of Neuroradiology, 32, 7, 1165-6.
United States. (2010). The Affordable Care Act: Protecting consumers and putting patients back in charge of their care. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration.
United States. (2010). An Act Entitled The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Washington, D.C: U.S. G.P.O.
Williams, D. R., McClellan, M. B., & Rivlin, A. M. (January 01, 2010). Beyond the Affordable Care Act: achieving real improvements in Americans' health. Health Affairs (project Hope), 29, 8, 1481-8.
