Question

According to the Centers for Medicare Services (CMS), the Affordable Care Act (ACA) gives citizens flexibility and control in order to make informed decisions. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the ACA. Is the law beneficial or detrimental to the U.S. healthcare system?

Answer 1

Healthcare reform:

• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was enacted on 23^rd March, 2010
• The primary aims of ACA (affordable care act) includes establishing near-universal coverage and shared responsibility, improving the affordability and quality of health care insurance coverage, enhancing the quality and efficacy of health care services while minimising the wasteful spending, and to strengthen primary health-care access particularly to medically underserved populations.
• The ACA allowed the insurance coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, and created new protections for elderly and disable people against coverage policies.
• Overall, efforts of ACA are directed to reframe the economic association between Americans and the health-care system, thereby to stem the health insurance crisis.

Positive features of ACA:

• Irrespective of the insurance plan and income, the quality is aimed to be equal for all the individuals
• The same physicians are available to choose for all types of plans, which ensures distribution of equal quality care.
• Individuals are previously recommended to choose plans if their current physician accepts them.
• A team of health care experts work to come up with ideas to preserve and reform Medicare and to improve the coverage quality while reducing the cost.

The negative features of ACA:

• Increased premium costs
• Increased deductible health plans

So, it is recommended to balance the premium costs and deductible health plans while presenting the positive features of ACA in future.