The Affordable Care Act (ACA) makes major changes to how Americans get and use health insurance, how doctors are paid, and how people file their taxes. It includes comprehensive health care reforms and tax provisions that affect individuals, families, businesses, insurers, and tax-exempt organizations.
The health law aims to bring down the cost of health insurance, protects consumers from abusive insurance company practices and makes sure that all Americans have access to affordable, quality health care. It does this through a series of steps, including:
Consumer Protections
The law requires every American to have health insurance or pay a penalty. It also makes it illegal for health insurance companies to deny coverage based on preexisting conditions or a person’s age, gender, or tobacco use, and it prohibits health insurance issuers from rescinding policies. It establishes a health insurance marketplace or “Exchange” where individuals and small business owners can shop for affordable health coverage.
It requires all health insurers to offer plans with certain essential benefits, and it bans annual or lifetime dollar limits on those benefits. It also prevents insurance companies from imposing excessive waiting periods for needed treatment and limits their ability to vary premiums by age, family size, and tobacco use. It also bans discrimination against women and ensures that most coverage contains important clinical preventive services without a copay or deductible.
In addition to expanding Medicaid and establishing health insurance Exchanges, the ACA provides financial assistance through premium tax credits and reductions in out-of-pocket costs for households below 400% of the poverty level, or around $19,530 for a family of three in 2013. It also creates a five-year waiting period before new legal immigrants are eligible for federally sponsored public health programs such as Medicare or the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
It promotes better health by making it easier to get preventive care, providing a new generation of vaccines for common diseases, and investing in community health initiatives. The ACA also helps reduce costs by reducing administrative costs in the health system and making it more efficient, and it supports medical innovation by encouraging research and development.
Economic Impact
The ACA is expected to increase economic growth and spur job creation, especially in sectors that depend on the health care industry for revenue. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that in 2023, the ACA will lead to an additional 3 million jobs and a decrease in unemployment to 7.2%, and by 2025, the ACA will add another 5 million jobs.
Because of the health reforms in the Affordable Care Act, Americans will be healthier and more productive on the job. They will miss fewer days of work and be more likely to live longer, healthy lives. This will mean more demand for goods and services, which will boost the economy at a time when it needs a boost. As a result, the ACA will help boost wages and living standards for families across America. It will also make it more affordable for employers to hire employees and offer workers higher-quality, more affordable health benefits.