Responses to health inequalities in the US
What is the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) 鈥 often referred to as 'Obamacare' 鈥 was introduced in October 2013, to give Americans better health security by putting in place comprehensive health insurance reforms which:
- expand healthcare coverage
- held insurance companies accountable
- lower healthcare costs
- guarantee more choice
- enhance the quality of care for all Americans
What were the aims of the ACA?
The aim of the ACA was to increase the quality and affordability of health insurance, lower the uninsured rate by expanding public and private insurance coverage, and reduce the costs of healthcare for individuals and the government.
Under ACA:
- all Americans must have access to health insurance
- businesses with more than 50 full-time employees must offer health insurance coverage
- insurance companies must provide a minimum level of cover regardless of age or medical history
- subsidies for health care are provided for families living below the poverty line
Reaction to ACA
Republicans are strongly opposed to the ACA stating that it was unaffordable, it had led to hundreds of thousands of jobs losses and represented excessive government interference in the private lives of American people. Following the election of President Trump in 2016, the Republicans achieved a majority in both houses and began dismantling the ACA.
Biden and Healthcare
When President Biden took office in early 2021, one of his first actions was to enact the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. This plan was a response to the Covid pandemic and it provided a range of help from financial payments and increased tax credits to people struggling with their household bills, to greater support for small businesses affected by lockdown. Importantly, the American Rescue Plan also provided greater subsidies for insurance premiums and expanded those who could qualify for them, in effect boosting financial support for the Affordable Care Act. (Source: The White House)
Success of the ACA
Democrats would argue, the ACA has been very successful, as it has lowered healthcare costs and increased the quality of healthcare for more than 20 million Americans.
Republicans, remain strongly against ACA. However, as the decade-old ACA is now the established healthcare system and there is no clear Republican alternative healthcare model.