Why does the Affordable Care Act not work?

Asked by: Bryana Quitzon MD  |  Last update: December 1, 2023
Score: 4.1/5 (69 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.

Why is the Affordable Care Act failing?

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.

Is the Affordable Care Act really working?

Since its enactment on March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act has led to an historic advancement of health equity in the United States. This landmark law improved the health of all Americans, including women and families, kids, older adults, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ and communities of color.

What happened with the Affordable Care Act?

The ACA significantly changed the healthcare system in the U.S. by reducing the amount individuals and families paid in uncompensated care. The act requires every American to have health insurance and provides assistance to those who cannot afford a plan.

What did the Affordable Care Act eliminated?

The Affordable Care Act required most people to obtain health insurance or pay a tax penalty. Legislation enacted in December 2017 effectively repealed that requirement, starting in 2019.

Obamacare Explained: Understanding the Affordable Care Act

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What did Biden do to the Affordable Care Act?

For his first two years in office, President Biden prioritized the ACA in his legislative agenda. Early in his term, he signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which included a significant increase in premium subsidies for Marketplace enrollees, through 2022.

Who did the Affordable Care Act hurt?

The biggest Obamacare losers are people who lost their insurance but are unlikely to qualify for subsidies through one of the new exchanges, which require an income of less than $47,000 for an individual or $95,000 for a family of four.

Did the Affordable Care Act save money?

Yet the ACA has more than delivered on that promise, saving about $4,000 per family. And these lower health care premiums probably contribute to the recent rise in workers' wages.

Who benefits from the Affordable Care Act?

About the Affordable Care Act

The law provides consumers with subsidies (“premium tax credits”) that lower costs for households with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Expand the Medicaid program to cover all adults with income below 138% of the FPL.

How can the Affordable Care Act be improved?

11 ways to improve Obamacare
  • 1) Require insurance companies to offer all ACA-qualified policies through the State Marketplaces. ...
  • 2) Permanently expand the premium tax credits to apply to everyone, regardless of income. ...
  • 3) Remove the employer mandate.

What are some cons of 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.

How many lives has Obamacare saved?

The Affordable Care Act's (ACA) expansion of Medicaid to low-income adults is preventing thousands of premature deaths each year, a landmark study finds. It saved the lives of at least 19,200 adults aged 55 to 64 over the four-year period from 2014 to 2017.

How much does Affordable Care Act cost taxpayers?

The CBO originally estimated that Obamacare would cost $940 billion over ten years. That cost has now been increased to $1.683 trillion.

Why are Affordable Care Act plans so expensive?

Health insurance obeys the same economic laws as other products: barriers to entry lead to insufficient competition, fewer choices and higher prices. “Insurance premiums … respond strongly to competition, and markets with more insurers have substantially lower premiums,” economist Martin Gaynor wrote in 2020.

Is the Affordable Care Act financially sound?

A review of the research literature on the effects of the ACA indicates that the law helped protect Americans against the financial risks of illness, reduced the uninsured rate, improved access to care, and lowered out-of-pocket spending.

Is everyone covered under the Affordable Care Act?

Everyone in California has access to health insurance. Pre-existing health conditions cannot deny anyone health coverage or extra charges. Children can be listed on their parent's health plan until they are 26 years of age.

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.

Which president pushed for the Affordable Care Act?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and colloquially known as Obamacare, is a landmark U.S. federal statute enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010.

Which president pushed the Affordable Care Act through Congress?

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, putting in place comprehensive reforms that improve access to affordable health coverage for everyone and protect consumers from abusive insurance company practices.

Did Biden lower healthcare costs?

Since the beginning of his Administration, President Biden has passed historic legislation to lower health care costs for tens of millions of Americans, took on Big Pharma to finally allow Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, and took action to eliminate hidden fees in every sector of the economy.

What is the difference between ObamaCare and BidenCare?

BidenCare is Joe Biden's version of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). It is his plan to lower premiums, deductibles, and drug prices and to offer everyone a choice, keep private insurance or join a Medicare-like public option.

Did the Affordable Care Act raise taxes?

To raise additional revenue for reform, the ACA imposed excise taxes on health insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and manufacturers of medical devices; raised taxes on high-income families; and in-creased limits on the income tax deduction for medical expenses.

What state has the most Obamacare?

State tops rest of nation with the most residents enrolled in “Obamacare.” Florida once again leads the nation in enrollment for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.

How many people didn t have insurance before Obamacare?

The number of uninsured individuals remains well below levels prior to enactment of the ACA. The number of uninsured nonelderly individuals dropped from more than 46.5 million in 2010 to fewer than 26.7 million in 2016, climbed to 28.9 million individuals in 2019 before dropping again to 27.5 million in 2021.

How many people died due to no health insurance?

As many as 44,789 Americans of working age die each year because they lack health insurance, more than the number who die annually from kidney disease. The study comes at a pivotal moment in history, as Congress considers legislation to expand health insurance coverage.