Introduction The words “health” and “medical care” were not mentioned in the United States original constitution, but the United States was one of the 61 States that signed on the Constitution of the World Health Organization on 1946 and ratified it on 1948 where it was legally binding. One of the fundamental human rights is to have access to a good and affordable healthcare despite any other condition, or as it was declared in that constitution: “The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition.”[1] Since then, all consecutive government administrations had worked persistently to achieve that …show more content…
Those who are involved in the healthcare domain beside politicians; such as, insurance companies, Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), individuals who are seeking healthcare benefits, employers who need to health insure their employees, healthcare providers, and others; keep discussing the positive and negative sides of ACA. The supporters of ACA still find it as the best choice while the opponents insisting to repeal and replace it. This paper will try first to highlight the major historical events and the prior laws and legalization that shaped and affected the healthcare system today in the United States. Secondly, give a summarized overview on the ACA provisions and what is considered an advantage and what is not. Third, I will point out on the current issues, challenges, and efforts taking by the new administration to repeal ACA. Last, I will discuss the alternatives and if we should replace ACA or just try to solve the problems in …show more content…
Bush signed the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act (MMA), adding an optional prescription drug benefit known as Part D which is provided only by private insurers.[5] MMA created the second major benefit expansion in Medicare since its initial passage in 1965. The huge rising in healthcare cost in parallel with the declining in healthcare coverage created major political and economic issues. When the out-of-pocket spending increased, the consumer directed health plans appeared, such as, Health Saving Accounts (HSAs), Healthcare Payment Accounts (HPAs), and High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) which allowed savings in federal income taxes.[2] In 2009, President Obama signed the Children Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act that extended the funding for CHIP till