The Patient Protection Affordable Care Act
opinion Essay
1661 words
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare, was passed in June of 2010 by the Supreme Court (Doyle 1). Georges C. Benjamin, MD, the executive director of the Public Health Association says: The new law will guarantee millions of Americans access to quality, affordable care regardless of health status; decrease rates of the nation’s leading chronic diseases; control soaring health spending; and strengthen our battered public health infrastructure… Health reform and its historic investment in prevention will help us achieve the promise we made to give our children a higher quality of life than we have (ProCon.org). This new bill includes an individual mandate requiring all uninsured individuals to purchase a health care plan from over 200 policy options or be fined. According to government officials, the options available under the Affordable Care Act is affordable and protects people from other health policies that neglect to cover pre-existing conditions, mental health illnesses and/or substance abuse issues. However, many taxpayers, newspapers journalists, and other political organizations are claiming that this new bill is causing a crisis across America. There are many different perspectives a person can take when scrutinizing Obamacare, but it would be wrong to judge the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act until thoroughly researching and critically analyzing the bill’s purpose, content, and the affects it can have on the individual, a community, and the nation as a whole. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is designed to offer affordable health coverage to those who are not offered health benefits through their employer or have been denied health coverage in the pas... ... middle of paper ... ... have to find other ways to counteract our ever-climbing national debt, our higher premiums, our new doctors, and whatever else gets “thrown” onto us by Obamacare. Works Cited Clemmitt, Marcia. "Assessing the New Health Care Law." CQ Researcher 21 Sept. 2012. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. Doyle, Jim. “Four years after passage of Obamacare, health care system remains in crisis.” Slttoday.com. 29 Dec. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. Edsall, Thomas B. “The Obamacare Crisis.” The New York Times. 19 Nov. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. Miller, S. A. “ObamaCare website glitches freeze out public on deadline day.” New York Post. 31 Mar. 2014. Web. 10. Apr. 2014. ProCon.org. “Is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) Good for America?” ProCon.org. 4 Apr. 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. Sargent, Greg. “An outbreak of candor in the Obamacare debate.” 8 Apr. 2014. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the supreme court passed the patient protection and affordable care act (obamacare) in june 2010.
- Opines that health reform and its historic investment in prevention will help us achieve the promise we made to give our children a higher quality of life than we have.
- Explains that the affordable care act is affordable and protects people from other health policies that neglect to cover pre-existing conditions, mental health illnesses and/or substance abuse issues.
- Explains that the patient protection and affordable care act is designed to offer affordable health coverage to those who are not offered health benefits through their employer or have been denied in the past.
- Opines that the patient protection and affordable care act is beneficial for america. there are many positives that provide a strong argument supporting the bill.
- Believes that health care reform should be guided by a simple principle: fix what's broken and build what works.
- Describes the pros and cons of the patient protection and affordable care act.
- Analyzes the arguments for and against the patient protection and affordable care act.
- Argues that the patient protection and affordable care act is a crisis due to the questionability of president obama's credibility and competence.
- Opines that the press and anti-obamacare organizations are not providing the public with any reason to believe the new bill was a good idea or that it will help them more than the old form of health care
- Opines that repealing the patient protection and affordable care act is a means of hope for those who are harmed most by the new bill.
- Opines that the patient protection and affordable care act is becoming a national crisis as the government forces americans to sign up or pay fees.
- Explains that four years after obamacare's passage, the health care system remains in crisis.
Related
- explanatory
- analytical
- opinion
- narrative
- The Affordable Care Actexplanatory essayThis paper discusses the Affordable Care Act and questions that were given to us by our instructor. The Affordable Care Act, or ACA, is a health care system reform that was implemented in 2010 by Obama, the current, and then president. There was a great deal of debate when the reform came about, and what it would mean for companies, individuals, and medical care providers. Ultimately, it was designed to bring a reform to the nation’s broken health care system ((Manchikanti, Caraway, Parr, Fellows, & Hirsch, 2010). There were so many individuals without health insurance who did not get the care they needed, and this reform came about to try and create a more equal and fair system that gives everybody a sort of equal chance at insurance and health care. Like any change, it’s frightening when something new and unknown comes about, and that is exactly what this did. There were many who were unhappy with it getting passed, as well as many who were pleased with it. This didn’t just fall onto Republicans or Democrats, but individuals who were in the health care systems, like medical care providers and certain insurance companies, which it would affect. In this paper we aim to examine some background information about the Affordable Care Act, key questions that relate to it, and explore some new information learned about the ACA through this course and its readings.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the affordable care act, or aca, is a health care reform that was implemented in 2010 by obama, the current, and then president.
- Explains that the affordable care act became law on march 23, 2010, but some provisions didn't go into effect until june 21, 2010, with the majority not taking hold until 2014 and later dates.
- States that the aca requires virtually all us citizens and legal residents to have insurance coverage meeting a federally determined "essential benefits" standard.
- States that employers with 50 or more full-time employees face a financial penalty if their employees are not enrolled in an employer-sponsored health plan meeting the essential benefit standards and apply for federal subsidies for individually purchased insurance.
- Explains that the aca eliminates the categorical eligibility requirement and requires that states make all us citizens and legal residents below 133% of the federal poverty level eligible for their medicaid programs.
- Explains that the aca also imposes new rules on private insurance, including a requirement that private health plans allow young adults up to age 26 to remain covered as dependents under their parents’ health insurance policies.
- States that the funding would come from direct tax penalties if citizens have no health plan through their job or have not purchased one on their own, and indirect expenses for job-based plans.
- Explains that the aca is looking to improve health insurance issues and the way health care is delivered.
- Explains why stakeholders are negatively affected by the affordable care act. the problem is that they would be paying money each year to help support this program and health care providers would receive less money to compensate for costs.
- Opines that the government is looking for political support to keep the affordable care act going.
- Opines that it will be interesting to see what comes from the affordable care act in the future and what happens when obama is no longer president and there is a new individual.
- Explains that bodenheimer, s., and grumbach, k. (2012). understanding health policy: a clinical approach. mcgraw hill publishing.
- Cites manchikanti, caraway, parr, a. t., fellows, bert, and hirsch, j.
- Explains mann, e., & ornstein, n. j. intensive care: how congress shapes health policy.
1784 wordsRead More - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Pros and Consexplanatory essayOne of the most controversial topics in the United States in recent years has been the route which should be undertaken in overhauling the healthcare system for the millions of Americans who are currently uninsured. It is important to note that the goal of the Affordable Care Act is to make healthcare affordable; it provides low-cost, government-subsidized insurance options through the State Health Insurance Marketplace (Amadeo 1). Our current president, Barack Obama, made it one of his goals to bring healthcare to all Americans through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. This plan, which has been termed “Obamacare”, has come under scrutiny from many Americans, but has also received a large amount of support in turn for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include a decrease in insurance discrimination on the basis of health or gender and affordable healthcare coverage for the millions of uninsured. The opposition to this act has cited increased costs and debt accumulation, a reduction in employer healthcare coverage options, as well as a penalization of those already using private healthcare insurance.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the affordable care act provides low-cost, government-subsidized insurance options through the state health insurance marketplace.
- Explains that obamacare's changes in requiring all americans to have affordable coverage will allow those with medical conditions and disabilities, as well as women who need pregnancy care, to be insured without having to potentially be denied coverage or forced to pay a much higher than average price.
- Explains that obamacare requires maternity care to be a part of all new insurance plans. the practice of "gender rating", which allowed insurers to charge women higher premiums, is no longer allowed.
- Explains that obamacare brings affordable healthcare coverage to over 32 million americans who are currently uninsured. the affordable care act expands medicaid and the children’s health insurance program, as well as improving the quality of medicare.
- Explains that obamacare addresses the 'donut hole' in medicare, which is planned to be closed by 2020 under the current affordable care act.
- Explains that 54% of americans are opposed to the affordable care act, despite it being approved four years ago. the opposition has given a number of supporting key points for their position.
- Explains that the addition of more major governmental programs such as healthcare subsidies has many worried that it will only plunge the united states further into debt.
- Explains that pharmaceutical companies will be paying for obamacare to close the coverage gap in medicare.
- Explains the disadvantages of reduced coverage options from employers and the penalization of those who are already on private healthcare plans.
- Opines that the opposition to obamacare raises some good points, especially in our current economic climate, but the supporters are also correct in saying the current system is not sustainable in the long-term.
- Analyzes the pros and cons of the affordable care act, including reduced discrimination by insurance companies, increased regulation of their practices, and affordable healthcare for the large quantities of uninsured americans.
- Cites kimberly amadeo's article, "obamacare pros and cons." about.com, 14 dec 2013.
1398 wordsRead More - The Affordable Care Act Debateanalytical essayThe Affordable Care Act has been at the center of political debate within the United States for the since current President Barack Obama signed it into law in 2010. The act represents the most significant regulatory healthcare overhaul of the United States healthcare system since the passage of both Medicaid and Medicare collectively Initially, the ACA was enacted with the goals of increasing the availability of affordable health insurance, lowering the uninsured rate by expanding public and private insurance and reducing cost of healthcare for individuals and the government (Robert, 2012). Proponents of the act’s passage have articulated that the ACA provides service for free, such as preventative health coverage for those registered, it requires that insurance companies can no longer deny person’s or children with pre-existing conditions and will close the Medicare “Donut Hole” for prescription drugs. While the Act has the potential to provide better quality of healthcare for the American populace, opponents argue that the ACA is flawed and could create a quagmire of cost and confusion with its implementation. Arguments against it hold the belief that it would force employers with religious affiliation to provide services to employees through their health plans that directly contradict their values. As a result of cost, companies may void out of their employer health insurance and pay a penalty as opposed to pay for employee insurance. Lastly, the act is said to focus more on registration the actually addressing cost of healthcare. While these issues are pertinent, the overall accessibility to healthcare created by the ACA and outweighs the negating arguments.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the affordable care act represents the most significant regulatory healthcare overhaul of the united states healthcare system since the passage of both medicaid and medicare collectively.
- Explains that the aca offers free preventative health care coverage, which places healthcare in the hands of the enrollee.
- States that the aca seeks to preserve a well-established quality of life for the elderly by closing the medicare "donut hole" for prescription drugs.
- Argues that the aca forces hardship upon employers. companies with more than 50 full-time employees must provide health insurance for their employees.
- Explains that the supreme court is reviewing provisions of the affordable care act requiring for-profit employers to offer insurance benefits for birth control and other reproductive health services without a co-payment.
- Explains that opponents of the aca believe that it only focuses on registering people for health insurance as opposed to helping diminish the cost of health care.
- Explains that the aca continues the trend of placing more power in the enrollee's hand by holding insurance companies more accountable.
- Opines that the aca is far from perfect, but improvements can be made to fix the holes within the law.
- Cites eilperin, heitkamp, landrieu, begich, warner, king, a., & manchin, j. how to fix the affordable care act.
2130 wordsRead More - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Actanalytical essayA power struggle over the defunding of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as ObamaCare, caused the government to go into a partial shutdown for sixteen days beginning on the first of October two-thousand thirteen. The ACA, Affordable Care Act, was originally signed on March twenty-third of two thousand ten to offer new benefits, rights, and protections regarding health care. President Obama (3/23/10) declared that the ACA reflects “the core principle that everybody should have some basic security when it comes to their healthcare.” I believe the intentions of ObamaCare is to expand affordable health insurance to all Americans while improving the quality and reducing health care spending in the United States (Hamblin, 4/2/13). However, according to a CBS news poll (10/3/13), about fifty-five percent of Americans disapprove of this new law and, myself included, feel that not all of the pending results of ObamaCare are in their best interest. These negative responses are a primary result of the demands brought forth by the ACA. This new health care act requires all Americans to possess a health insurance policy that meets a long list of mandatory standards by March twenty-third of two-thousand fourteen or a pay a fee of one percent of their total income (Amadeo, 12/13/13). Although there are some exceptions to these demands, they are scarce and very expensive. The Democratic Party appears to favor the plan, claiming that it will save Americans two thousand five hundred dollars per person while offering exceptional new benefits such as revoking health insurance companies right’s to deny a patient or increase charges based on pre-existing conditions, age, or gender (ObamaCare facts, 2013). In opposition to t...
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how a power struggle over the defunding of the patient protection and affordable care act caused the government to shutdown for sixteen days beginning on october two-thousand thirteen.
- Explains that the house of representatives and senate must agree upon a federal budget and have it approved by congress and signed by the president by september thirtieth.
- Analyzes how the 16-day government shutdown affected individual people and businesses as well as the american economy as a whole. the office of management and budget recorded two billion dollar loss in productivity alone due to the eight hundred fifty thousand government employees that were furloughed or temporarily laid off.
- Analyzes the effects of the government shutdown on public services and daily essentials. the national institution of health continued treatment on current patients but did not accept new applications.
- Explains that president obama signed a temporary agreement re-opening the government and raising the debt ceiling. the bipartisan budget act of 2013 places the budget limit for the current fiscal year at one trillion twelve billion.
- Concludes that defenders of obamacare cannot claim to have a strong sense of democratic principle that the power rests in the hands of the people.
- Opines that obamacare is a federally mandated health care reform. about.com us economy. retrieved december 15, 2013.
- Cites bergmen, sealander, stocker, and zimmerman, in united states: lawmakers reach deal to end government shutdown, raise debt ceiling.
- Opines that republicans can win in 2014 if they go on offense against democrats over obamacare.
- Cites burwell, s. m., "impacts and costs of the government shutdown".
- Quotes docktermen, e. (2013, november 17). swampland heres how much the government shutdown cost the economy comments.
- Explains hellman, a., why did the u.s. government shut down in october 2013.
- Explains that obamacare facts is a fact-based publication on the affordable care act.
- Explains that the federal government shutdown cost $2 billion in lost productivity, omb report finds.
- Cites ryan, p. (2013, december 18). house of representatives committee on the budget.
- Cites thomas, c., "a republican response to obamacare". fox news. retrieved december 12, 2013.
1251 wordsRead More - Affordable Care Act: Portfolioanalytical essayIntroduction This paper will take into account the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Law and how all three branches of government are involved with the creation and analyze issues associated with the ACA. Subsequently the paper will describe the role of public opinion and lobbying groups. Thirdly this paper will evaluate the concepts of equity, efficiency, and effectiveness showcasing their role in the law and its passage. This paper will take into consideration the anticipated effects on cost, quality, and access, including discussing the balance of markets and the government.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the paper will take into account the affordable care act (aca) law and how all three branches of government are involved in the creation and analyze issues associated with the law.
- Explains that the executive branch is responsible for directing government, commanding the armed forces, acting as chief law enforcement officer, and vetoing laws.
- Explains that rosenblatt et al. (1997) describes three different legal models that have defined both litigation and health care system itself.
- Analyzes how the public opinion can be used to convince congress. the aca was introduced as a major campaign for the 112th congress in 2010.
- Explains that cost containment and efficiency has been a concern for the last twenty years in healthcare. the rising cost can be contributed to new technology, and better access to health.
- Explains the benefits of electronic medical records, such as reducing the need for patients to carry their own x-rays.
- Opines that managing change is critical to improving the market and insurance premiums. the aca was enacted to offer all american citizens access to healthcare coverage.
- Opines that with consistent monitoring and massaging, the us can reach a balance with costs, efficiency, effectiveness and equity.
- Describes the four editions of the 4th edition of health politics and policy, by james a. morone, theodor j. litman.
- States the henry j. kaiser family foundation's summary of new health reform law, http://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/8061-021.pdf
- Explains the world health organization's health systems: improving performance.
- Explains that the aging population is at a disadvantage because of the rising number of individuals 65 years of age and older. the aca and the medicare advantage plan (ma) have reduced cost by reducing prescription drugs and lessen the amount these plans spend on administrative costs.
- Explains the patient protection and affordable care act of 2010: reforming the health care reform for the new decade.
1740 wordsRead More - Persuasive Essay On Obamacareopinion essayThe Affordable Care Act, more commonly known as Obamacare, is a new health policy created by the American federal government. Its purpose is to make healthcare more affordable and friendly for the people. Unfortunately in some way that does not prove to be the case. It is becoming apparent that Obama may have made some misleading statements to help get the ACA put into action. The ACA is sprinkled with many flaws that call for a reform such as people’s current plans being terminated, high costs, and at minimum some people’s hours being cut by their employers.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that obamacare is a new health policy created by the american federal government. the aca is sprinkled with flaws that call for reform, such as people's current plans being terminated, high costs, and at minimum some people’s hours being cut
- Explains that the aca regulates and puts pressure on insurance agencies to offer more services to their customers. people that were happy with their plans found themselves without them, because of the changes to healthcare at the federal level.
- Opines that obamacare needs alteration because of the high cost for people, especially the healthy, buying their own coverage.
- Opines that the aca needs to be changed because people's hours are being cut by employers so they are considered part-time.
- Opines that the aca's out-of-pocket maximum helps people not get drowned in debt, but that 2008 statement has become increasingly known as a lie.
- Opines that the aca was flawed and misleading from the start, but the general public was willing to listen and accept rehearsed lines of another well-spoken politician.
1205 wordsRead More - The Affordable Care Act (ACA)narrative essayThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) will cause a large influx of patients into the health care system. For a variety of reasons, this will change how the front-line health care personnel provide care. Nurses will expand his or her scope and territory of care. Front line providers will change to include more advanced practice nurses because of the national shortage of primary care providers ("Department Of Health And Human Services," 2014). No longer will they just practice in brick and mortar hospitals. Because of the recently instituted Medicare, reimbursement regulations after patients are discharge from the hospital more nurses will be in the field performing well patient checks. These nurses will ensure the follow through of discharge instructions; assist in coordinating follow up physician and ancillary appointment all in the attempt to reduce transmission of nosocomial infections and re-hospitalization. The ACA allows Medicare to withhold payments for readmission of patients with certain diagnoses like myocardial infarction and pneumonia (The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2014).
In this essay, the author
- Cites the department of health and human services' health care education and reconciliation act.
- Cites koh, howard k, m.p.h., & sebelius, k. g.
- Cites rak, s., and coffin, j. (2013, march). the affordable care act. the journal of medical practice.
- Explains that the affordable care act (aca) will cause a large influx of patients into the health care system.
1145 wordsRead More - The Affordable Care Actanalytical essayThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act In 2012, over 47 million Americans were uninsured. Due to the rising costs of health care, decreases in employer sponsored health care, and ineligibility gaps for public programs, the number of insured people has steadily increased (KFF, 2013). In an effort to overhaul the broken, fragmented system, massive health care reform has been launched. The most far-reaching law affecting managed care since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act “ACA” was signed into law on March 23, 2010 (Kongstvedt, 2013). This controversial and comprehensive piece of legislation focuses on provisions to expand coverage improves health care delivery systems, increase consumer protection, and control health care costs (KFF, 2013).
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the impact of the affordable care act on current and future practices of health insurance and managed care.
- Explains the key provisions of the affordable care act, which are designed to decrease obstacles for obtaining health care coverage and accessing care.
- Explains that states will have the potential to change how health plans are designed through the creation of their health insurance exchanges.
- Explains that the aca seeks to lower health care costs by encouraging providers to create integrated healthcare delivery systems. the centers for medicare and medicaid has become a strong advocate in the creation of acos.
- Argues that the new legislation affects many different types of health care providers, but one could argue that hospitals are being treated unfairly.
- Opines that expanded medicaid and newly insured will have an effect on hospitals as they struggle to meet the demand of insured patients and follow the aca's requirements to improve better quality measures.
- Cites bihari, tunis, and weiner, who have written about the affordable care act.
- Introduces kongstvedt, p.r., maniam, black, and leavell, h. the financial and economic effects of the patient protection and affordable care act.
1904 wordsRead More - Introduction In 2010, the United States took the first tangible step toward universal health care coverage, with the legalization of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent report the total population of the United States is nearly 309 million people (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). In 2009, it was estimated 49 % of the population was covered under an employer sponsored insurance plan (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2009). The same 2009 data reported an additional 29 % of the population was covered under some form of government or public program (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2009).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that in 2010, the united states took the first tangible step toward universal health care coverage with the legalization of the patient protection and affordable care act of 2010.
- Explains that the new legislation provides insurance coverage for all citizens ensuring access to medical care.
- Explains the cost of health care in the united states is financed through primary sources: corporations, a family or individual, private insurance companies and government programs.
- Argues that the patient protection and affordable care act of 2010 addresses the issues of quality in u.s. health care.
- Opines that the affordable care act is a good first step, but it's not the end of the road.
- Cites the kaiser commission on medicade and the uninsured and the difference health insurance makes.
2381 wordsRead More - Analysis of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)analytical essayIn a cultural and technological world so heavily influenced by the United States, the lack of access to universal and affordable health care remains a critical point of debate and embarrassment in a country far behind in its citizen's accessibility to it. The current establishment's answer, known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is a piece of passed legislation that aims to put forth access to a market in which insurance providers compete within fair rates to insure those who previously had no access or could not afford it. Though recently put to the test in a number of states, a number of glaring ethical and operational issues remain that will test the fiber of the new found plan in which some cases show that it is more detrimental to some citizens rather than helpful. In effect, the goal by which the Affordable Care Act seeks to address providing insurance to millions of people who would otherwise be unable to gain access is an honorable and perhaps necessary gesture, but the ethical questions of whether or not this particular approach violates the rights of citizens, or is a natural right unto itself remains untested.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that the affordable care act (aca) is a piece of passed legislation that aims to put forth access to the market in which insurance providers compete within fair rates to insure those who previously had no access or could not afford it.
- Explains that the united states spends more annually than any other country on health care costs, but is considered one of the weaker health systems among other industrialized nations.
- Explains that the aca program requires that all citizens purchase healthcare or suffer a fine. while the fine is based on income, the question remains whether it is ethical or even legal to fine someone for simply being alive.
- Opines that the aca has yet to prove its benefit in a number of cases. the system rewards highly reimbursed services without considering whether clinicians are providing low-cost, high-value care for patients.
- Opines that the aca program's quality of care is a risk by examining current issues in other countries which adopt governmental assisted health care.
- Analyzes how the argument for the ethical merit of a care plan has raged for some time. president truman, following the example of president roosevelt, released 21 points in september of 1945 that addressed the government's responsibility to provide the welfare of its citizens.
- Compares ronald reagan's tactics of persuasion with those used against future presidents, including barack obama. these interventions cast aside moral liberties and could lead to more invasive procedures.
- Analyzes how the aca fails to address other concerns in cost, quality of care, and ethical and legal concerns generated by such a mandate. some advocates of additional health care options have pitched forward less excessively forceful ideas.
- Analyzes the ethical implications of fines and required health care to bolster enrollment appears more misleading financial agenda than honest attempt to provide genuine universal care for the impoverished and underprivileged.
- Explains that wilensky, gail r., phd, "the shortfalls of "obamacare"." the new england journal ofmedicine 367.16 (2012): 1479-81.
- Analyzes the place of human rights in american efforts to expand and universalizehealthcare.
1017 wordsRead More