How has the Affordable Care Act helped low income families?

Asked by: Dr. Clovis Wiza  |  Last update: October 2, 2023
Score: 4.6/5 (34 votes)

The Affordable Care Act, signed into law on March 23, 2010, brought expanded access to Medicaid in 34 states and Washington, DC, which means that people living in poverty in these states can access Medicaid much more quickly and easily than before.

How does the Affordable Care Act affect low income families?

Those in the lowest-income group—many of whom gained Medicaid coverage under the ACA—are better off because their out-of-pocket health spending is reduced and they do not pay private health insurance premiums. Middle-income groups gain no income benefit under the ACA.

What are benefits of the Affordable Care Act is helpful for families?

People have access to essential health benefits, including preventive and rehabilitative care, prescription drugs, wellness visits and contraceptives, mental health and substance use treatment, among many others.

Does the Affordable Care Act help poor?

Key Takeaways. Over the past decade, expansions of Medi-Cal (federally known as Medicaid) and federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have improved access to health insurance for millions of lower-income Californians.

What are 3 benefits of the Affordable Care Act?

Affordable Care Act (ACA) basics

Among other things, the ACA made it easier for many people to get coverage, removed annual and lifetime limits on essential health benefits and put in place requirements that individuals have medical coverage or pay a tax penalty.

ACA 101: A Comprehensive Guide to the Affordable Care Act

20 related questions found

What are two major benefits of the Affordable Care Act?

The law has 3 primary goals:
  • Make affordable health insurance available to more people. ...
  • Expand the Medicaid program to cover all adults with income below 138% of the FPL. ...
  • Support innovative medical care delivery methods designed to lower the costs of health care generally.

What are the 10 essential benefits of the Affordable Care Act?

Essential health benefits ensure that health plans cover care that patients need
  • Ambulatory patient services (outpatient services)
  • Emergency services.
  • Hospitalization.
  • Maternity and newborn care.
  • Mental health and substance use disorder services, including behavioral health treatment.
  • Prescription drugs.

Who benefits most from the Affordable Care Act?

People with the lowest incomes tended to benefit the most from the law. That makes sense, given how the Affordable Care Act is designed. In states that expanded Medicaid, low-income people can get insurance without having to pay a premium.

Has the Affordable Care Act helped people?

The ACA has reduced the number of uninsured people to historically low levels and helped more people access health care services, especially low-income people and people of color.

How does the Affordable Care Act impact me?

The ACA enabled people to gain coverage by 1) expanding the publicly funded Medicaid program to cover adults with annual incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level; 2) establishing the Health Insurance Marketplace for individuals and small businesses, allowing them to purchase private health insurance (PHI); and 3 ...

Why is affordable health care important?

People without coverage are more likely to suffer declines in overall health — the result of little or no preventive care and delays in care that cause more severe problems or hospitalizations.

How could Affordable Care Act be better?

Making Insurance Premiums More Affordable

ensure through 2025 that no one has to spend more than 8.5 percent of household income on premiums; previously, eligibility for premium tax credits was capped at 400 percent of the federal poverty level (i.e., $106,000 for a family of four)

What does the Affordable Care Act mean for kids?

The Affordable Care Act requires plans and issuers that offer dependent child coverage to make the coverage available until a child reaches the age of 26. Both married and unmarried children qualify for this coverage. This rule applies to all plans in the individual market and to all employer plans.

What are the cons of the Affordable Care Act?

Cons:
  • The cost has not decreased for everyone. Those who do not qualify for subsidies may find marketplace health insurance plans unaffordable. ...
  • Loss of company-sponsored health plans. ...
  • Tax penalties. ...
  • Shrinking networks. ...
  • Shopping for coverage can be complicated.

What are three benefits of the Affordable Care Act quizlet?

Match
  • extending insurance coverage to the uninsured/underinsured.
  • decreasing costs by improving efficiency.
  • expanding prevention and wellness programs (PH measures)
  • protecting against undue financial burdens on individuals as a result of healthcare expenditures.
  • improving patient safety and quality of care.

Did the Affordable Care Act save lives?

We find a reduction in all-cause mortality in ages 20 to 64 equaling 11.36 deaths per 100,000 individuals, a 3.6 percent decrease. This estimate is largely driven by reductions in causes of death likely to be influenced by access to health care, and equates to one life saved per 310 newly covered individuals.

What did the Affordable Care Act actually do?

The ACA expanded Medicaid eligibility, created a Health Insurance Marketplace, and prevented insurance companies from denying coverage due to preexisting conditions. The Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover a list of essential health benefits.

How many Americans benefited from the Affordable Care Act?

New Reports Show Record 35 Million People Enrolled in Coverage Related to the Affordable Care Act, with Historic 21 Million People Enrolled in Medicaid Expansion Coverage.

What is the importance of getting the affordable part of the Affordable Care Act right?

Affordability at the point of care is central to keeping people healthy. To be sure, the uninsured are more likely to report experiencing cost-related barriers to accessing care. Regardless of insurance status, however, those who face high out-of-pocket costs may delay or forgo needed care.

What is one benefit of Affordable Care Act quizlet?

Increases benefits and lower costs for consumers, bolster our health care and public health workforce and infrastructure, foster innovation and quality in our system.

What are some of the benefits of the Affordable Care Act quizlet?

Affordable Care Act Provisions Include:
  • Individual mandate.
  • health insurance reforms.
  • Essential Health benefits.
  • Affordable insurance exchanges.
  • Premium Credits to Eligible Individuals and Families.
  • Employer Requirements.
  • Premium Subsidiaries to Small Employers.
  • Early retirement reinsurance program.

What are the main differences between Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act?

Obamacare is the nickname for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. The act brought significant changes to the U.S. healthcare system by reducing the amount paid by individuals and families for uncompensated care.

How did nurses benefit from the Affordable Care Act?

The Affordable Care Act and Its Impact on the Nursing Profession. The ACA places a greater focus on outcomes, with more pressure on nurses to show they can give effective care. This means the demand for advanced practice nurses (APNs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) has also increased.

What were the two main goals of the Affordable Care Act ACA with respect to health insurance?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has two main goals: (1) to make health care coverage more available, affordable, and acceptable and (2) to slow the growth of health care costs in the U.S.