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Source for Negative 3.

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The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, was signed into law in 2010. The act aimed to provide affordable health insurance coverage for all Americans. The ACA was also designed to protect consumers from insurance company tactics that might drive up patient costs or restrict care.

Millions of Americans have benefitted by receiving insurance coverage through the ACA. Many of these people were unemployed or had low-paying jobs. Some couldn't work because of a disability or family obligations. Others couldn't get decent health insurance because of a pre-existing medical condition, such as a chronic disease.

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. They also think it may have negative effects on the quality of care. There are frequent calls for the ACA to be repealed or overhauled.

Here's a look at some of the pros and cons of Obamacare.

More Americans Have Health Insurance

More than 16 million Americans obtained health insurance coverage within the first five years of the ACA. Young adults make up a large percentage of these newly insured people.

Health Insurance Is More Affordable for Many People

Insurance companies must now spend at least 80 percent of insurance premiums on medical care and improvements. The ACA also aims to prevent insurers from making unreasonable rate increases. Insurance coverage isn't free by any means, but people now have a wider range of coverage options.

People with Pre-Existing Health Conditions Can No Longer Be Denied Coverage

A pre-existing condition, such as cancer, made it difficult for many people to get health insurance before the ACA. Most insurance companies wouldn't cover treatment for these conditions. They said this was because the illness or injury occurred before you were covered by their plans. Under the ACA, you cannot be denied coverage because of a pre-existing health problem.

No Time Limits on Care

Before the ACA, some people with chronic health problems ran out of insurance coverage. Insurance companies set limits on the amount of money they would spend on an individual consumer. Insurance companies can no longer maintain a pre-set dollar limit on the coverage they provide their customers.

More Screenings Are Covered

The ACA covers many screenings and preventive services. These usually have low co-pays or deductibles. The hope is that if you're proactive in your healthcare, you can avoid or delay major health problems later. Healthier consumers will lead to lower costs over time. For example, a diabetes screening and early treatment may help prevent costly and debilitating treatment later.

"The ACA is going to help all Americans have higher quality and less costly healthcare in the decades to come," says Dr. Christopher Lillis, an internist in Virginia and a member of Doctors for America.

Lower Prescription Drug Costs

The ACA promised to make prescription drugs more affordable. Many people, particularly senior citizens, are unable to afford all their medications. The number of prescription and generic drugs covered by the ACA is growing every year. Savings on prescription drugs exceeded $15 billion within the first five years of Obamacare.

Many People Have to Pay Higher Premiums

Insurance companies now provide a wider range of benefits and cover people with pre-existing conditions. This has caused premiums to rise for a lot of people who already had health insurance.

You Can Be Fined if You Don't Have Insurance

The goal of Obamacare is for people to be insured year round. If you're uninsured and don't obtain an exemption, you must pay a modest fine. The fine is expected to increase over time. Some people think it's intrusive for the government to require health insurance. ACA supporters argue that not having insurance passes your healthcare costs on to everyone else.

Taxes Are Going up as a Result of the ACA

Several new taxes were created to help pay for the ACA, including taxes on medical device and pharmaceutical sales. Additional taxes were also created for people with high incomes. Funding also comes from savings in Medicare payments.

The wealthy are helping to subsidize insurance for the poor. Some economists, however, predict that in the long term, the ACA will help reduce the deficit and may eventually have a positive impact on the budget.

Enrolling Can Be Complicated

The ACA website had a lot of technical problems when it was first launched. This made it difficult for people to enroll and led to delays and lower-than-expected signups. The website problems were eventually fixed, but many consumers have complained that signing up for the right family and business coverage can be tricky.

Many hospitals and public health agencies have set up programs to help guide consumers and business owners through the setup process. The ACA website also has sections devoted to explaining the procedures and available options.

Businesses Are Cutting Employee Hours to Avoid Covering Employees

Opponents of Obamacare claimed the legislation would destroy jobs. The number of full-time jobs has gone up in recent years, but there are still reports of businesses cutting hours from employee schedules. Business with 50 or more full-time employees must offer insurance or make payments to cover healthcare expenses for employees. By reducing hours, businesses are able to get by the 30-hour-per-week definition of a full-time employee.

The ACA is subject to changes every year. The legislation can be amended, and budget decisions can affect how it is implemented. Changes in the healthcare field, along with changes to the political makeup of future presidential administrations and Congress make it likely that the ACA will be tinkered with for years to come.

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The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, was signed into law in 2010. The act aimed to provide affordable health insurance coverage for all Americans. The ACA was also designed to protect consumers from insurance company tactics that might drive up patient costs or restrict care.

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Due to the almost over-use of Obama care it has been reported that using this form of care can have a large effect on the quality of care given to the patient. For example those with higher taxes because of this Act that work within the medical field may not treat a patient with this plan equal to someone who does not.

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Source for negative 1 and 2.

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Obama care had changes within the initial amount Americans could deduct from their medical expenses. In 2013 it became known that using Obama care the medical expense must exceed 10 percent of the users income where as it used to be 7.5 thus limiting those with this health care option.

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The Affordable Care Act increased income taxes for Americans that made over two-hundred thousand or higher within a year. This does not look appealing to Americans that can afford health care as the raise in taxes could deduct their benefits as they may lose the ability to pay for them.

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Source for positive 3.

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Obamacare has a lot of benefits that people now take for granted. These benefits are designed to save you money and lower U.S. health care costs. In 2010, Congressional leaders realized that the cost of Medicare, Medicaid, and employee health benefits was eating up the federal budget. They agreed that reforming health care was a priority.

The Affordable Care Act's three strategies means more people can get treatment before they need expensive emergency room care.

Why is preventive care so crucial? A day in the hospital cost $2,517 on average in 2018. Most people assume their insurance pays most of this. Some may be unprepared to pay a high deductible. But before the ACA, they could also get hit with another bill. Many found out their plans had a low maximum. They were responsible for any costs above that.

Once a patient declared bankruptcy, the hospital had to declare a loss on any unpaid treatment. To make up the profit, it must pass this cost onto everyone else.

Obamacare's Impact on Bankruptcy

Obamacare reduced the number of bankruptcy filings. In 2010, 1.5 million people filed. That dropped to 770,846 by 2016. The ACA forced insurance companies to cover all costs by eliminating annual and lifetime limits. That reduced unexpected catastrophic costs for individuals.

From 1990 through 2018, the highest rate of health spending growth occurred in 2002 at 9.6%. This high growth rate followed a steady growth of 6.6 and 8.5% in 2000 and 2001, respectively. After the exchanges opened in 2014, spending on health care rose more slowly. It grew by 5.2% in 2014 and 5.8% in 2015.

In 2018, a Health Affairs study found states that expanded Medicaid saw 40% increase in the number of prescriptions filled for diabetes drugs. States that didn't expand Medicaid expansion saw no increase.

Lower health care costs are one reason why the ACA was projected to reduce the deficit by $143 billion over its first 10 years. If health care is less expensive, so is Medicare and Medicaid. Obamacare also shifted cost burdens to health care providers and pharmaceutical companies. Last but not least, it raised taxes on those earning at least $200,000 a year. Those taxes would end if Obamacare were repealed, thus adding to the debt.

Make Insurance Affordable

The first of Obamacare's three strategies was to make health insurance more affordable. It did this by offering tax credits, setting up insurance exchanges, and allowing children to go on their parents' plan. It also eliminated the "Part D" prescription drug coverage "doughnut hole" and offered a small business tax credit.

Tax Credits

The ACA provides tax credits for insurance to the middle class, those whose incomes fall between 100% and 400% of the poverty level. It limits out-of-pocket costs to $8,150 for an individual plan and $16,300 for a family plan in 2020, and $8,550 for an individual plan and $17,100 for a family plan in 2021.﻿﻿ It expands Medicaid to 138% of the federal poverty level and provides this coverage to adults without children for the first time.﻿﻿

Insurance Exchanges

In 2014, states were required to set up insurance exchanges or use the federal government's exchange to make it easier to shop for insurance plans.

You can use the exchanges to compare prices and purchase health insurance online. You can also compare doctors, hospitals, and other providers in your area. Make sure you know how to get Obamacare. Each year, the enrollment period starts in November.

Add Children to Parents' Plans

Under the ACA, parents are allowed to add their children up to age 26 on their plans.﻿﻿ That lowers costs for everyone else by adding the premiums from these relatively healthy people to insurance company revenues.

Eliminate Part D "Doughnut Hole"

The ACA eliminated the Medicare Part D "doughnut hole" in 2020. This benefit was phased in over time. It gave seniors a 55% discount on prescription drugs and 42% for generic medicines in 2016. That amount increased until they only paid 25% in 2020.﻿﻿

Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit benefits employers with fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees. Small businesses get a tax credit worth up to 50% of their contribution to employees' health insurance. Non-profits receive a 35% credit.﻿﻿

ACA Emphasizes Prevention

The ACA emphasis on prevention is critical in cutting health care costs for the nation. Here's how:

10 Essential Benefits

The ACA requires all insurance plans to cover the following 10 essential health benefits.﻿﻿

1. Preventive and wellness visits, including chronic disease management

2. Maternity and newborn care

3. Mental and behavioral health treatment

4. Services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions

5. Diagnostic lab tests

6. Pediatric dental and vision care

7. Prescription drugs

8. Outpatient care

9. Emergency room services

10. Hospitalization

Most of these 10 essential benefits are preventive care services.

These include well-woman visits, domestic violence screening, and chronic disease management. It also covers lab tests to diagnose diseases, including mammograms and colonoscopies. In addition, maternity and newborn care, and dental and vision care for children is free.

Expands Treatment for Chronic Diseases and Mental Health

The ACA expanded treatment for mental health, addiction, and chronic diseases. These patients can be the most expensive to treat, which is why insurance companies try to avoid coverage. When left untreated, many of them ended up homeless or in prison, which costs the government much more.

The ACA covers services and devices to help people with injuries, disabilities, or chronic conditions. It also covers more drug benefits.

The ACA mandated that the National Prevention Council must coordinate all federal health efforts to promote an active, drug-free lifestyle. It also established the Prevention and Public Health Fund to invest in proven public health programs, from smoking cessation to combating obesity.

Eliminates Lifetime and Annual Coverage Limits

Another way the ACA provides a safety net is by eliminating lifetime and annual limits.﻿﻿ That helps those with chronic conditions get enough insurance to cover treatment. This safety net is critical for hemophiliacs and children with heart problems or cancer. This would probably be repealed.

Prevents Denial of Coverage Due to Pre-Existing Conditions

Obamacareprevents insurance companies from denying you a policy because you have, or get, a health condition.﻿﻿ That's known as a pre-existing condition, and it kept millions from getting coverage.

Companies can't drop your coverage because you made a mistake on your application, or because you've entered a clinical trial for cancer or another life-threatening disease. Plans can't make you wait more than ninety days before coverage starts. You can appeal claim rejections or other health insurance decisions through your state regulator.

Limits Administrative Costs and Profits

The ACA requires that insurance companies spend 85% of all premium dollars for large employer plans on health care services and quality improvement. That drops to 80% for plans sold to individuals and small employers.

If insurers do not meet these goals because their administrative costs or profits are too high, they must send rebates back to consumers. You might have already received it and not know it was because of Obamacare.﻿﻿

Improve How Health Care Itself Is Delivered

Here are the ways that Obamacare improved how doctors and hospitals deliver health care.

Accountable Care Organizations

The ACA authorized Medicare to change how it pays doctors and hospitals. It used to pay for every test and procedure you get. It will transition to a system that bases payments on how well you get. That forces hospitals, doctors, and pharmacists to work together in a comprehensive approach. So far, these so-called Accountable Care Organizations have shown significant results. The ACA encourages more of them.

You probably assumed your primary care physician already coordinated the care you receive from hospital visits, specialists, and tests. But like the former system, doctors didn't get paid more for doing that. Doctors today must focus on activities that generate income. That means even the best practices can't afford to coordinate care.

Computerized Medical Records

The ACA works with prior legislation to make sure all medical records are put on computers so they can be transferred electronically. You probably thought that also happened, but medical records have been traditionally kept on paper records. That meant test results had to be mailed or faxed.

That will allow all your doctors to share their diagnoses and treatments as well as your clerical and payment information. Once implemented, electronic records will further lower health care costs.

Funds Health Care Training

The ACA requires states to make sure the Medicaid payments that doctors receive are no lower than payment rates for Medicare. It funds scholarships and loans to double the number of health care providers. It adds funding to attract doctors to medically underserved communities in rural areas.﻿﻿

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation

Obamacare established the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation. It's in charge of creating a national strategy to improve health care and lower costs.

The ACA created the Independent Payment Advisory Board to advise Congress on how to extend the life of the Medicare Trust Fund. The Board will target waste in the system. It will recommend ways to reduce costs, improve health outcomes, and expand access to high-quality care.

Reduces Fraud

The ACA also targets fraudulent doctor/supplier relationships. It gives guidance to states reviewing excessive insurance rate hikes. It also requires background checks of all nursing home staff to prevent abuse of seniors.

Obamacare created the Community First Choice Option. It encourages states to offer home and community-based services to physically challenged individuals through Medicaid. That lowers costs by keeping them out of nursing homes.

In Depth: Pros and Cons | How Does It Work? | Obamacare Summary | What's in the ACA Bill | The Truth about Obamacare

To make sure you are getting all your Obamacare benefits, check out the author's book, "The Ultimate Obamacare Handbook" (2015-2016).

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How the ACA's Benefits Lower Health Care Costs

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Obamacare has a lot of benefits that people now take for granted. These benefits are designed to save you money and lower U.S. health care costs. In 2010, Congressional leaders realized that the cost of Medicare, Medicaid, and employee health benefits was eating up the federal budget.

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Signed March 23, 2010 by president Obama. (My project is on the affordability and money related portion of the act)

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You can read the Affordable Care Act by visiting the links below. The health care law, sometimes known as "Obamacare," was signed March 23, 2010.

Read the full law

The law has 2 parts: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. You can view them in PDF or HTML formats below. You can also view an unofficial, consolidated version that is more readable.

In all cases, the documents are searchable using the "Control + F" keys on your computer and typing in the word or phrase you are looking for.

Official certified full-text of the laws in PDF form:

Summary and certified full-text version in HTML (web page) format:

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Read the Affordable Care Act, Health Care Law

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You can read the Affordable Care Act by visiting the links below. The health care law, sometimes known as "Obamacare," was signed March 23, 2010. The law has 2 parts: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. You can view them in PDF or HTML formats below.

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Soure for positives 1 and 2.

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Although health insurance provided through large employers is not required to feature these essential benefits, many experts expect insurers to continue to upgrade their plans over time.

Prior to the law's passage, we saw "a race to the bottom, with insurers cutting benefits to lower premiums," says Shana Alex Lavarreda, Ph.D., director of health insurance studies for the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. "The essential health benefits set a standard for insurance. Anything below that is not true health insurance."

These changes are welcome news to people ages 50 to 64 - especially the 9 million uninsured in that group, as well as the 4 million who buy health insurance on their own. A new study by HealthPocket, an independent research firm, found that less than 2 percent of existing individual health plans provide all 10 essential benefits. On average, today's plans offer 76 percent of the benefits.

Read on to learn exactly what the essential benefits are, and see what you'll be able to purchase once the new health insurance marketplaces open on Oct. 1.

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Frank Lalli, Illustrations by Oliver Munday

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Affordable Care Act's 10 Essential Health Benefits

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Although health insurance provided through large employers is not required to feature these essential benefits, many experts expect insurers to continue to upgrade their plans over time. Prior to the law's passage, we saw "a race to the bottom, with insurers cutting benefits to lower premiums," says Shana Alex Lavarreda, Ph.D., director of health insurance studies for the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

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Obama care aspires to lower health care cost in the "long-run" improving it all as a whole and making it affordable. This will help Americans throughout the years as it is intend to last past the year of its creation.

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This Act allows funding for emergency services, prescriptions, and pediatric care for infants as well as of age children for those who are unable to afford it. This will aid parents in the way that children getting hurt is almost inevitable therefore they will not have constant worry on if they will be able to afford care in the case of an emergency.

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The Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare", will be offered to more than fifty-five million Americans without health coverage and who are uninsured. Offering this plan will aid Americans that struggle with being able to afford certain health care programs relieving stress from their daily life.