[Institution’s Name]
The United States has a high number of uninsured people. When these people become gravely ill, it puts a burden on the health care system because they must take care of them, but have no way to pay for it. So Obama and the Democrats, with little to no input from Republicans, pushed through Congress the Affordable Care Act, more popularly known as Obamacare. Obamacare mandated that everyone be insured or pay a fine that was to be imposed through the IRS.
The initiatives of the ACA were to make healthcare more accessible to the public by reducing costs and requiring participation. In addition, the ACA put an end to insurance denials for pre-existing ailments. It allowed parents to cover their children up to age twenty-six. Insurance companies are prohibited from canceling coverage for errors made by the customers. Furthermore, the ACA puts an end to limits on medical payouts for patients. Another positive to the ACA is that by 2018, all health plans must provide cost free preventative care services (Barnes, 2)
The ACA was legalized on March 23, 2010. There were some provisions of the law that went into effect immediately. One was that persons covered under an existing plan could, for the most part, keep that plan with the condition that the insurer continued to offer the plan. Those who were not insured would have to enroll in a healthcare plan that met ACA standards. After three months more changes would be implemented such as tax incentives for small businesses, and the ability for those with pre-existing conditions to receive federal funds to be able to buy insurance. There were more changes to the law and some of them had to be made in order to make the law more efficient. But the law was challenged in court. However, the ACA had a rocky beginning due to numerous computer glitches. However, these problems were mostly resolved, although it took a few months.
On November 4, 2011, the Supreme Court decides to hear the challenges to the ACA. The lawsuit against the ACA was brought forth because of questions on its constitutionality. It was argued that the ACA violated state rights because it forced citizens to buy health insurance or be fined. Furthermore, the ACA would put a heavy burden on state governments. Then there was the challenge about federal subsidies. In ACA wording, it was mentioned that subsidies would be available only to those states who had set up their own exchanges. This meant that states that depended on the federal exchanges would not be granted subsidies, which was unfair and this part was also challenged (Barnes, 4). However, the Supreme Court would take a highly lenient approach to these challenges. It gave the law the benefit of the doubt. On June 2015, the Supreme Court upheld the Affordable Care Act by a 6-margin, thus breathing fresh air into the life of the ACA (Barnes 4).
I think Obamacare has been a mixed blessing. First of all, healthcare is still expensive to buy, but at least it covers the basics without having to issue a component. It has increased access to the health care system. We know this because, as of March of 2015, over ten million people had paid their premiums and were actively insured (The Affordable Care Act). This has led to a decrease in the number of uninsured persons. As part of the ACA, Medicaid was expanded and young people could be covered until age 26, which has reduced uncompensated care for many hospitals.
Personally, the ACA has brought peace of mind to my family. It is good to know that we are covered and do not have to live in fear of being dropped on a whim or being excluded because of pre-existing conditions, which I have. Ten years ago, I would have been uninsured with unresolved health issues. Because of the ACA, I have peace of mind and the medical attention I need.
References
Barnes, Robert. "Affordable Care Act Survives Supreme Court Challenge." The Washington Post [Washington D.C.] 25 June 2015: n. pag. Court of Law. Web. 13 July 2016.
"The Affordable Care Act: A Brief Summary." States Implement Health Reform (n.d.): 12. Web. 13 July 2016.
