When the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, was ushered into law, many adults were concerned about how it would affect them, including their ability to gain health insurance coverage, the scope of coverage provided, and the costs involved. Generally speaking, the fears associated with the program have been, and continue to be, assuaged. For starters, those who take advantage of Obamacare by purchasing health insurance coverage through the marketplace are likely enjoying far better rates for coverage than what they could obtain via private health insurance providers. In addition, those suffering from preexisting conditions no longer have to worry about denial of coverage, higher costs, limitations to treatment, or other types of discrimination that existed prior to the passage of the ACA. However, there are even more benefits, and ultimately, everyone will enjoy some advantage from Obamacare.
Before the implementation of Obamacare, many people worried that their costs for health insurance coverage would increase as a result of both federal and state funding for the program. For the most part, this has not been the case. Many adults have enjoyed uninterrupted coverage, keeping their old policies, maintaining their former coverage, and paying the same price. In addition, Obamacare will prove its worth over time by lowering costs for taxpayers. Although the initial expense to launch the program is high, the idea is to provide essential, preventive services to Americans that would have gone uninsured before Obamacare, eliminating the need for costly emergency services that the government and taxpayers were covering. In the long run, the payoff could be massive, and in the meantime, every U.S. citizen has gained access to affordable coverage and basic medical care.
The benefits for those who utilize Obamacare have been even greater. Prior to the ACA passing, it was estimated that roughly 30 million Americans were without health insurance coverage. In most cases, these people were part of a number of underserved populations, including those least able to afford the costs of medical care. Low-income families, children, the elderly, the disabled, pregnant women, and those with preexisting conditions were not only unable to afford insurance, but some were flat-out denied policies, regardless of whether or not they could afford to pay. Obamacare changed that.
Suppose you are one of many suffering from a chronic condition, or that you survived cancer or other diseases. Before Obamacare, you might have been charged more for insurance, denied coverage for needed treatments, or even denied the option to purchase health insurance based on your preexisting condition. In many cases, pregnancy was viewed as a preexisting condition and women were charged more for coverage because it was assumed that they would eventually become pregnant. Under Obamacare, such discrimination is no longer allowed.
Not everyone will be directly affected by Obamacare, but over time every American will enjoy the benefits of the program, even if only indirectly. For example, taxpayers should see some benefit over time as less money is needed to cover emergency services for the previously uninsured. In addition, medical facilities are now being held accountable for after care services and general cleanliness – those that fail to meet standards may not receive payouts for services covered by federally funded programs. This means better treatment for everyone. In short, even if you aren’t one of the millions that signs up for health insurance coverage under Obamacare, you are going to enjoy the benefits of the program in one way or another.
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