What are the major problems with the Affordable Care Act?

Asked by: Pat Goldner  |  Last update: July 23, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (19 votes)

The Problem: Affordability
The ACA set standards for “affordability,” but millions remain uninsured or underinsured due to high costs, even with subsidies potentially available. High deductibles and increases in consumer cost sharing have chipped away at the affordability of ACA-compliant plans.

What are the negatives 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.

Why the Affordable Care Act failed?

Not only did the ACA fail to control the rising cost of insurance, but it also failed to make health care and prescribed medicines affordable. According to a West Health and Gallup, 30 percent of surveyed individuals did not seek needed medical treatment due to the cost from September to October 2021.

What are the two key issues that the ACA tried to accomplish?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has 3 main objectives: (1) to reform the private insurance market—especially for individuals and small-group purchasers, (2) to expand Medicaid to the working poor with income up to 133% of the federal poverty level, and (3) to change the way that medical decisions ...

What was the most controversial aspect of the Affordable Care Act?

Individual mandate. The most legally and politically controversial aspect of the ACA, the individual mandate requires Americans to purchase health insurance or face a government penalty, with some exceptions—particularly for low-income individuals who cannot afford to buy insurance [3].

Here's Why the Affordable Care Act Is So Controversial | History

37 related questions found

Why do doctors not like Obamacare?

Dr. Richard Amerling, a New York City physician who is president of the AAPS, said Obamacare has set up a “bad business model” for private physicians. Doctors, he said, can't adjust their rates to keep up with expenses. In addition, electronic record keeping is a burden both in terms of cost and time.

Was the Affordable Care Act ruled unconstitutional?

In December 2019 the Fifth Circuit concurred that the individual mandate was unconstitutional but sent the case back to the district court to determine which, if any, portions of the ACA could remain and whether the decision should apply nationwide.

Why is the ACA controversial?

The ACA has been highly controversial, despite the positive outcomes. Conservatives objected to the tax increases and higher insurance premiums needed to pay for Obamacare. Some people in the healthcare industry are critical of the additional workload and costs placed on medical providers.

Who benefits from Obamacare?

Under ACA, premium subsidies were made available to those who made between 100 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level and buy insurance through an exchange.

How did Obamacare affect the economy?

In reviewing evidence over the past five years, this report concludes that the ACA has had no net negative economic impact and, in fact, has likely helped to stimulate growth by contributing to the slower rise in health care costs.

Has Obamacare helped or hurt?

Indisputably, yes. More than 20 million people have gained coverage as a result of the ACA. It has dramatically reduced the uninsured rate. On the day President Obama signed the ACA, 16 percent of Americans were uninsured; in March 2020, it was nine percent.

Why should we repeal the ACA?

Striking down the ACA would also impede efforts to address the public health crisis. And eliminating the ACA's protections for people with pre-existing conditions could make it harder for the more than 7 million people who've had COVID to obtain affordable, comprehensive coverage in the future.

Is Affordable Care Act good?

Conclusion. The ACA has helped millions of Americans gain insurance coverage, saved thousands of lives, and strengthened the health care system. The law has been life-changing for people who were previously uninsured, have lower incomes, or have preexisting conditions, among other groups.

How did Obamacare affect small businesses?

Indeed, the uninsured rate for small-business employees fell by almost 10 percentage points post-ACA. The ACA also has helped stabilize health costs for many small businesses that provide coverage, with the rate of small-business premium increases falling by half following implementation of the law.

How much does the Affordable Care Act cost taxpayers?

According to the Joint Committee on Taxation, about 73 million taxpayers earning less than $200,000 will see their taxes rise as a result of various Obamacare provisions. The CBO originally estimated that Obamacare would cost $940 billion over ten years. That cost has now been increased to $1.683 trillion.

Who uses Obamacare the most?

Three states accounted for 42% of all ACA enrollees in 2021: Florida, California, and Texas. Rounding out the top five states using Obamacare plans are North Carolina and Georgia.

Who does the Affordable Care Act benefit the most?

More than 20 million Americans gained health insurance under the ACA. Black Americans, children and small-business owners have especially benefited. Thirty-seven states have expanded Medicaid, deepening their pool of eligible residents to those who live at or below 138% of the federal poverty level.

What is Trumpcare health?

What Is Trumpcare? Trumpcare is the moniker given to the American Health Care Act (ACHA), the bill that was designed to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) put in place by former President Obama. The ACHA was drafted by President Trump's Republican party and championed by House Speaker Paul Ryan.

What would happen if the ACA was repealed?

The health insurance industry would be upended by the elimination of A.C.A. requirements. Insurers in many markets could again deny coverage or charge higher premiums to people with pre-existing medical conditions, and they could charge women higher rates.

How many times has ACA been challenged?

Since 2010, various states, private entities and individuals have challenged parts or all of the ACA nearly 2,000 times in state and federal courts.

What did the US Supreme Court decide about the Affordable Care Act?

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued an opinion upholding the Affordable Care Act by a 7-2 vote, allowing millions to keep their insurance coverage amid the coronavirus pandemic. In the decision, the court reversed a lower court ruling finding the individual mandate unconstitutional.

What did the Supreme Court say about the ACA?

The Ruling

To establish standing, a plaintiff must show an actual injury that is traceable to an invalid law and can be redressed or remedied by the courts. The Court held that with the removal of the tax penalty for noncompliance, the mandate was unenforceable against the plaintiffs.

Why is affordable healthcare so expensive?

The price of medical care is the single biggest factor behind U.S. healthcare costs, accounting for 90% of spending. These expenditures reflect the cost of caring for those with chronic or long-term medical conditions, an aging population and the increased cost of new medicines, procedures and technologies.

Why is Obama care good?

The ACA helps cut high U.S. health care costs.

In addition to increasing insurance coverage, the Affordable Care Act makes investments in programs designed to reduce the cost and improve the quality of health care.