The U.S. spends more money per capita on healthcare when compared to other developed countries. Both state- and federal-level alternatives highlight access to care and cost of care. The ACA has impacted all health policy options. Review alternate scholarly sources, scholarly health policy journals) and discuss the following questions.
Are the key issues of the law highlighted? Provide a rationale.
What are the key changes to the implementation of the ACA over the years?
What are some of the debates concerning the ACA? Provide scholarly research.
Full Answer Section
The ACA has been implemented over several years, and there have been a number of changes to the law along the way. Some of the key changes include:
- The individual mandate: The individual mandate was one of the most controversial parts of the ACA. It required most Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty. The Supreme Court upheld the individual mandate in 2012, but it has been weakened by subsequent legislation.
- Medicaid expansion: The ACA expanded Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income people, in most states. However, some states have opted not to expand Medicaid. This has left millions of low-income Americans without health insurance.
- Health insurance exchanges: The ACA created health insurance exchanges, where people can shop for and buy health insurance. The exchanges have been successful in helping people get health insurance, but they have also been criticized for being confusing and difficult to use.
There are a number of debates concerning the ACA. Some of the most common debates include:
- The cost of the ACA: The ACA has been criticized for being too expensive. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that the ACA would cost $1.4 trillion over ten years. However, the CBO also estimated that the ACA would reduce the federal deficit by $150 billion over ten years.
- The individual mandate: The individual mandate has been criticized for being an overreach of government power. Opponents of the individual mandate argue that it is unfair to force people to buy health insurance.
- Medicaid expansion: The Medicaid expansion has been criticized for being too expensive and for leading to long wait times for care. Opponents of the Medicaid expansion argue that it is not sustainable and that it will lead to higher taxes.
The ACA is a complex law with a long history. There are a number of key issues and debates surrounding the ACA, and it is likely to continue to be a source of controversy for many years to come.
Here are some scholarly sources that discuss the ACA:
- The Affordable Care Act: A Primer by the Kaiser Family Foundation
- The Affordable Care Act: What It Is and How It Works by the Congressional Budget Office
- The Affordable Care Act: A Critical Overview by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University