Greg Silver Analysis

Large populations of Americans are uninsured mainly because of the high cost of insurance. Majority of the uninsured are the low-income working families’. The adults represent a higher percentage of the uninsured than children. Before the law, you could be denied coverage or treatment because you had been sick in the past, be dropped mid-treatment for making a simple mistake on your application, hence, the Affordable Care Act was implemented into law on March 23, 2010 by President Barrack Obama to make sure that every American irrespective of their status will be insured and have full access to proper health care benefits, rights and protection(1). To understand the

For many who cannot afford health insurance, when the Affordable Care Act claimed that it would lower health care cost, expand their coverage, and provide an overall better quality of care there would expectantly be a sigh of relief. That is until Texas announced that it would not be expanding Medicaid under the new health care act. In addition, it is noted that “states that implement the ACA’s Medicaid expansion, more people with disabilities may qualify for Medicaid based solely on their low-income status, which enables them to enroll in coverage as quickly as possible, without waiting for a disability determination.” (Musumeci M., 2014.). Many support the idea of Medicaid being expanded because it would make the process of being approved and receiving a higher quality of help, much simpler for those who are in need of health care assistance. Of equal importance, in the article “The inevitable expansion of the Medicaid expansion” Louise Norris states that “the idea behind the expansion was simply to provide a safety net for people who are struggling financially, including those living in poverty or just above it.” (2016.). Lastly, the authors at Shots: Health News from NPR, state that George Masi, the CEO of the taxpayer-supported Harris Health System, emphasizes the

One reason that is frequently cited when asking the question of why so many people in the U.S. don’t have coverage is the cost. Many populations, in particular minorities, low-income, and women cannot afford health insurance or are underinsured thus putting them at a higher risk for disease, disability and death. In the U.S in 2010, there were 50 million people uninsured (Patel & Rushefsky, 2014). Private insurance companies have denied coverage to people with preexisting conditions (as seen in the Sick Around America video) and even pregnant women, this practice illustrates the inequality and inequity issues that have permeated the health care system. The Affordable Care Act sought to remedy the issues related to health insurance coverage being accessible for all Americans but there still exists many people without

I’m sure you have heard many debates, discussions, and opinions about the law ObamaCare. Do you know what this law was implemented for? Do you know why some could support it or want it repealed? Do you realize how much money one could leave the taxpayers to pay for their unpaid medical bills because they could not afford insurance? “ObamaCare, officially called the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) but more often called the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for short, reforms the health insurance industry and the American health care system as a whole” (ObamaCare Facts). Barack Obama and the Supreme Court ruling in 2012 gave Americans better rights and more protection for access to universal affordable quality healthcare to the uninsured population. ObamaCare was not designed to change the way one gets insurance, but to alleviate the national health care crisis of forty-four million uninsured Americans. I chose to do my research paper over this particular topic because I wanted to learn more information on how the working middle class could obtain insurance for them and/or their families. I also wanted to know how people who are uninsured could have access to ObamaCare and what ObamaCare actually does for the uninsured.

Health care reform and access to insurance have been staples of the American political agenda ever since the end of World War II. From President Truman’s call for universal coverage in the late 1940’s to the creation of Medicaid and Medicare to the Affordable Care Act, both parties have debated how to lower the rate of uninsured Americans. After nearly 70 years of debate in Washington and beyond, the number of Americans with health insurance has certainly grown (Miller, 2014). However, the number of people in the United States without coverage is still unacceptably high and a problem that should be addressed with a great deal of urgency and care.

In February 2017, the news was dominated by stories and video of town hall meetings with constituents telling their representatives stories of how the ACA had benefitted them or their loved ones in one way or another (Colliver, 2017). There is no doubt that the law has helped thousands, maybe even millions of people across the country. There have also been stories of individuals who have health insurance, but are unable to use it because of high deductibles, which effectively render the insurance policies these people hold emergency only plans (Luhby, 2016). This is most certainly an unintended consequence of a law that was written with good intentions, but which needs to be modified to work with the real life situations the citizens of this country are faced with.

The foremost concept of the Affordable Care Act was to allow for more poverty-stricken Americans to be able to gain access to health care. Yet, if you widen the amount of people can get free health care, who is meant to pay for them? In order for this new program to work, the US government needed enough young and healthy Americans to pay into the costs of having health care. However, problems began when Americans were finding that it was less expensive to just take the penalty for not having health care. Elementary office secretary, Catherine Moore explained in a personal interview, how a co-worker had also come across this same realization. “I worked with a lady that during the first year [of the Affordable Care Act] it was cheaper for her to take the penalty than to pay for insurance.” So now, not only is the government missing out on money that could have been used to support those who could not afford health care, but it is also encouraging healthy people who may not

Where will I go when I’m sick? Who can I rely on, my government or myself? Will I have to choose between paying bills and the health of my family? The United States of America’s government’s Affordable Care Act is attempting to remove that question from every citizen’s mind. The ACA will allow lifesaving and non-emergency medical treatments to be at the fingertips of every tax paying American. It will make healthcare a right, not just a luxury. Although these may seem like outstanding qualities, is it really all that it is made out to be? “The Affordable Care Act (ACA), officially called The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), is a US law that reforms both the healthcare and health insurance industries in America. The law increases the quality, availability, and affordability of private and public health insurance to over 44 million uninsured Americans through its many provisions which include new regulations, taxes, mandates, and subsidies (PAR 2, Obamacare Facts).” With that being said, I will discuss the controversies seen from both parties in relation to the Affordable Care Act, and bring forth many important factors such as: the benefits and consequences, the cost of the ACA and the coverage actually received, and the future of the Health Care System in a world with Obamacare. The purpose of this paper is to give information in an unbiased manner in relation to the Affordable Care Act.

“If Obamacare is so wonderful, why is it that its loudest advocates don 't want to be subject to it,” stated Senator Ted Cruz. As financial and social hardships began to become apparent in the United States, one major problem facing the citizens and governing body is Health Care for all. Socialized medicine is a health care system where the government funds and runs health care facilities, employs the health care professionals, and pays for all health care amenities. This idea of giving high quality care to citizens previously unable to afford healthcare has caused problems in the United States, and this idea of “socialized medicine” has proven to create hardships in other countries in the past. Obamacare has introduced socialized medicine in the United States, which has caused negative effects both financially and ethically.

Currently, “Premiums in 31 states are expected to rise by double digits, while two states will see decreases in 2017 from this year. Premiums in one state — Arizona — are estimated to more than double” (Herron, 1). This means that the cheap alternative that Obamacare once promised may not be available in the coming months. This increase in many states will affect the general population. Unfortunately, these rises could potentially make Obamacare out of reach for low income families. While this price increase doesn’t affect people who receive health care from their jobs, it is hypothesized that it will affect those who are the most ill. “That means that the sickest patients are most likely to be squeezed. They’ll either have to suffer the inconvenience of switching all their doctors and records around, or they’ll have to stomach the biggest increases” (Ableson, 2). This belief is the core of the Republicans argument because not only has Obamacare proved to be relatively inefficient is is shown to likely become a negative force for those who truly need it. If those who truly need it aren’t getting enough coverage now, what happens when the Act is

In 2008, upon the commencement of The Affordable Care Act, the idea was to help millions of uninsured Americans gain health insurance, especially those who are at or just above the federal poverty level. Although the idea behind a universal health care system was great at the time, many citizens are struggling to find a doctor that will accept the subsidized health care insurance, such as Medicaid, and Passport. Furthermore, doctors choose to opt-out of accepting government based health insurance because the reimbursement rates are too low. “It is estimated that private plans pay $1.00 for a service, Medicare pays $0.80, and the ACA exchange plans are paying about $0.60.” (Harvey 1) That shows that the government based subsidized programs are significantly lower than the average market value. A

In today’s day and age, American households can all agree that health insurance is not a luxury, but a necessity. Without it, costs of emergency room visits and prescription medicines can be financially devastating. However, in the past many families and individuals have taken the risk of not being insured due to the high cost of the insurance itself. To attempt to reform this unfair system, the Obama administration signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010. The law, coined “Obamacare,” has received much opposition due to its expansion government programs and increase in spending. It brings to question how much the government should be involved in an area that for the majority of America’s history, has been

While many Americans can enjoy the full benefits of being in a developed nation such as full access to healthcare, there are many others who only have limited access to the basic necessities. Because of this issue, the affordable care act was developed creating new laws, regulations, taxes, and subsidies as a way to ensure all Americans have equal access to healthcare. Although the law aimed to be a solution for those with little to no access to healthcare, it resulted in a number of problems that frustrated doctors and patients, and complicated the healthcare system. While some believe access to affordable healthcare for all Americans is a necessity and a reality of the future, others have determined the rising costs to sustain the law and the allegedly socialist aspects of the law that impose a “one size fits all” healthcare system on the public make it unfeasible for American citizens. The affordable care act was welcomed into law due to the promise of open access to healthcare it could potentially offer many Americans; however, the excess of regulations and limitations it places on healthcare officials, and the excess of taxes and costs to keep the system in place further limits access to healthcare for many American citizens.

Health care in the United States is driven by a patchwork of services and financing. Americans access health care services in a variety of ways — from private physicians’ offices, to public hospitals, to safety-net providers. This diverse network of health care providers is supported by an equally diverse set of funding streams. The United States spends almost twice as much on health care as any other country, topping $2 trillion each year. (WHO.INT 2000) However, even with overall spending amounting to more than $7,400 per person, millions of individuals cannot access the health care services they need.(Foundation 2009) So when the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (a.k.a the Affordable Care Act or ACA) was passed in the summer

The proposed health care reform bill attempts to change issues of public policy and health care management for the poor and uninsured. Many leaders from the Democratic Party are actively engaging in policy-making to fix what Rep. Henry Waxman (D-California) calls a “‘dysfunctional’ health care system” (2009). Currently, the U.S. health care system denies people with pre-existing conditions from receiving care. Another problem with the system is that the health insurance that some employers offer may be so expensive that their employees cannot afford it. Any cuts in Medicaid may mean that physicians have fewer incentives to provide adequate care for the poor. These are some of the many problems that the Affordable Health Choices Act attempts to address. Fiscally conservative political and business groups oppose this measure because they believe that any changes in public policy and health care management might affect them negatively.