Please respond to all three discussion posts in your own words. APA 7th edition with a turn it in report

• You must respond to all three peer posts with a minimum of 150 words each. 
• You are expected to post to the forum in correct sentence and paragraph format. Remember to check for correct spelling and grammar.

Discussion 1

There are many pros to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Subsidies from the Affordable Care Act help people who qualify pay less for health insurance. Preventive care is one of the 10 essential health benefits that all qualified health insurance plans must cover. Some of these benefits include wellness and preventive care. Because states have chosen to grow their Medicaid programs, many people are making better decisions because they have more information. The ACA covers Americans who don’t have health insurance and make less than 138% of the federal poverty line (Affordable care act (ACA) – glossary). Dependents can stay on their parent’s plans for a longer time. For example, your children can stay on your health plan until they are 26 years old. Limits on annual benefits have been phased out, and limits on benefits over a person’s whole life have been banned (The Pros and cons of the affordable care act).

However, there are many cons to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as well. The price hasn’t gone down for everyone. People who don’t get subsidies may not be able to afford health insurance plans in the marketplace. Since company-sponsored health insurance laws are going away, some businesses may find it cheaper to let their workers buy their insurance on the exchanges. Tax penalties are gone because the federal tax no longer exists. Before 2019, big tax fines were not covered (The Pros and cons of the affordable care act). Many insurance companies cut the number of providers in their networks to save money while meeting the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Shopping for coverage can be hard because there are limited spots, websites can be hard to use, and there are many different types of coverage.

References

Affordable care act (ACA) – glossary. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/affordable-care-act/

The Pros and cons of the affordable care act. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.healthmarkets.com/resources/health-insurance/affordable-care-act-pros-and-cons/Links to an external site.

Discussion 2

The Affordable Care Act

Like most legislation, I believe the Affordable Care Act started out with all the best intentions and was implemented to help the public as a whole. I believe that President Obama and the Democratic party have seen a need to reform the health care industry in America. I think all intentions were good and that there was no ill will involved but remaking 20% of the United States economy is not job a simple bill. The Affordable Care Act also forced states to address the working poor and those with no income. One aspect that people don’t like to talk about is the expansion of Medicare and that has affected the state and the federal government. According to the National Budget office, the expansion of Medicare and the subsides provided to low-income workers the cost the taxpayers approximately One Hundred and thirty Billion dollars. As more and more small businesses are pushed out the marketplace (meaning they cannot afford to provide insurance to their workers) the pool of private insurance companies will dry up and the federal government will have to set in to fill the void. According to Department of Health numbers in 2020 (the last time the numbers were updated) 31 million people were enrolled the Affordable Care Act system (about 10percent of the population). Nearly half 14.8 million people are covered under the Medicare umbrella. That is a system that cannot fund itself today, much less when we push millions under the federal system. I believe the current system could be built upon making it easier for private insurers to enter the market. Here is one rule, I personally have found to be utter nonsense. Why can’t someone living in a small state, with a smaller population, buy insurance from a company in a larger state, bring more people under the tent.

Discussion 3

The Affordable Care Act of 2010  

So, since the “enactment on March 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act has led to an historic advancement of health equity in the United States. This landmark law improved the health of all Americans, including women and families, kids, older adults, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+, and communities of color.” (hhs.gov) According to this website (hhs.gov), ‘millions more Americans have gained health coverage without limits, and protections are in place for people with preexisting conditions.” I think the Affordable Care Act might be a good piece of legislations as it allows those with preexisting conditions to be able to have health coverage and not be refused or left to worry, not be refused because of these conditions, and not be overcharged for having preexisting health issues. This Affordable Care Act might have saved a lot of people, especially those who are already sick, a bunch of burdens as now they can apply for the health insurance they need, and it is supposed to be affordable as well. 

Pros of the Affordable Care Act is that: everyone is entitled to receive health insurance, can’t be refused due to preexisting conditions, there is no time restrictions on care, there is a lot more screenings that are covered, and some prescriptions cost way less. 

Cons of the Affordable Care Act is that: buying or looking for health insurance can be a nuisance, not everyone could afford the health insurance because their premium is greater (even though it’s supposed to be affordable), you can be penalized for not having health insurance, increasing in taxes, and jobs are decreasing employees’ hours. 

Reference 

1. Fact Sheet: Celebrating the Affordable Care Act. (March 18,2022). www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/18/03/fact-sheet-celebrating-affordable-care-act Links to an external site.