To improve health care access for everyone, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was created. It is a law that aims to provide affordable healthcare to all Americans. The ACA implementation was costly for both the government and individuals.
Some people saw higher insurance premiums due to the ACA. The ACA led to higher insurance premiums for healthier and younger individuals. This is because the cost of covering pre-existing medical conditions can cause their premiums to rise. Some people were able, thanks to the ACA to be able to purchase affordable health insurance.
It was significant in terms of cost from a governmental standpoint. The Congressional Budget Office projected that the ACA would result in an increase of $1.2 trillion in federal spending over 10 years. The ACA was designed to raise revenue via various means, including taxes for high-income people and penalties for individuals who do not have health insurance.
In general, there is a complex impact of ACA on the access to care available for various demographics. The ACA extended Medicaid coverage to lower-income people, improving their access to healthcare. On the other hand, the ACA’s insurance mandates and penalties disproportionately affected younger and healthier individuals, who saw their premiums increase. The ACA didn’t address all health care disparities, including those based on race, income and ethnicity. These continue to affect access to healthcare for some demographics.
It is clear that the ACA did not aim to make it easier for everyone to have access to quality health care. There were also costs involved in its implementation and the complex impact it has on people from different backgrounds. The ACA is still a significant piece of legislation which has increased access to healthcare for millions of Americans.