The Affordable Health Care Act is once again under scrutiny, as Obamacare’s effectiveness has been called into question. Obamacare was intended to provide affordable healthcare coverage for millions of Americans who had no other means of obtaining it. However, many stakeholders are now questioning the law’s effectiveness after 10 years on the books. Critics believe Obamacare has not done enough to reduce health care costs or improve access to medical services for all Americans.
The Act was implemented in 2009, with the backing of Democrats and one republican. In availing this Act, it was believed that it would counter expensive health insurance premiums and offer ordinary citizens affordable health care services. During its first year in action, Obamacare enabled over 10 million American citizens to get insured. Health reports showed that citizens without health insurance declined from 18% in July 2013 to 13.4% in June 2014 [Source]. This points to significant progress made by the Act and how it aided struggling people to be insured while requested to pay normal rates. Up to this day, it is regarded as one of the most effective tools of governing, which inspired Americans to get health insurance.
Despite reaching such magnitudes in insuring Americans, the Act was always under fire, and the former US president sought to abolish it in 2020 but failed. Republicans were leading in trying to ouster the program and cited how it was unfair to the citizens, especially after it aided the “individual law,” which mandated everyone to have health insurance. Failure to do so meant that one had to pay the penalty, and the republicans despised Democrats for robbing the working class of their hard-earned money.
Analysis of Obamacare’s Current Performance
The Act was viewed as a strategy by the government to own the health care system and selfishly rip off all the profits. After it was passed as a law, Obamacare had an immediate impact as health premiums in private sectors declined significantly. Stats show that in the pre-Obamacare period, health insurance premiums for single and family coverage were leveled at 7,9% and 8,2%, respectively. In the post-period, they averaged at 4,0% and 4,6%, respectively.
The number of uninsured people declined to 8,6% in 2017, the lowest figure ever reached. This figure is still averaging below those attained before the Act, meaning that the ACA is very active. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, “31 million Americans have health coverage through the Affordable Care Act – a record”.
The HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra commented on the figure of Americans covered by ACA in a tweet which stated that “The historic numbers released today speak to the success of the Affordable Care Act and our country’s need for quality, affordable health care. The President’s American Rescue Plan was a leap forward, and we at HHS will continue to advance the fight for health security”.
Such praises point to the effectiveness of the ACA, and even the Supreme Court dragged its feet to remove the policy after it was blamed for being unconstitutional. “Health care coverage is life-changing for our communities and families. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans have been through the Marketplaces and Medicaid expansion,” as noted by CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.
Those who oppose the Act despise it for failing to implement some of its policies and shortchanging the customers. In an article titled “8 Reasons to Still Hate Obamacare”, Stephen Moore notes pertinent issues that seem like “flaws” under the ACA. Most of the reasons are related to how the Act is very expensive and galloping the nation’s funds. More so, ACA is blamed for closing down other health care insurances and demanding more money from Americans but offering less health coverage. The administration was regarded as too adamant about applying cost-saving alternatives that will help to cut down expenses when delivering services.
However, ACA has been showered with praises, especially amid the current global crisis, which demands a lot of medical attention. Even the Biden administration seems to recognize ACA’s worth and aid it in providing medical services to the millions of citizens under its wing.
Given the magnitude of customers insured by ACA, one might be persuaded to treat it in good faith to cover people in the struggling classes.
