Pros And Cons Of The Affordable Care Act

As the United States progresses into the twenty-first century, so does the health care system. While gridlock in the U.S. House of Representatives succumbed, President Obama and his administration celebrated with the passing of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Despite millions gaining access to health care and becoming insured, the law brought much opposition. The opposition argues that the law is too controversial and that the flaws have worsened the health care system. However, the various flaws of the care act are outweighed by the many beneficial factors. Unlike the previous health care system, the Affordable Care Act creates a unified health care system with certain guidelines to follow. Of the industrialized nations, the U.S. is one

While the states that expanded their Medicaid systems using the federal grant were able to provide easier access for thousands, some states decided to opt out. In an attempt to oppose the care act and the Obama administration, states left thousands without affordable health care. To overcome their mistake, state legislatures have proposed all kinds of solutions to provide easier access to affordable health care. In the state of Tennessee, a lottery system is held for health care. Every two nights a year, state residents can call a state phone line and request an application for Medicaid. However, there are many obstacles to overcome such as the phone line shuts down after 2,500 calls, the caller has to fall within a certain age group, or be a caretaker of a child who qualifies. Having such restrictions, limits who receives insurance and does not support the unified system created by the care act. Despite such attempts to foil the care act, all insurance companies now must provide cover for certain

According to Representative Paul Ryan, the care act places “taxes, fees, and fines that have no place in a free country” (NPR). However, it is these taxes, fees, and fines that will balance out the medical prices. As more people gain access to insurance and become newly insured, they will have to undergo preventive care and testing. The preventive care and testing consists of cholesterol tests and cancer screenings which will cause a short term increase in medical prices. However, taking such measures allows for the newly insured to have an up to date medical record. As the insured rates begin to decrease and level out, medical costs are estimated to decrease as well. This decrease will be the result of less uninsured citizens using services such as the emergency room for minor health issues. However, with the short term increase in insurance costs, businesses are beginning to drop their employees’ insurance