Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Analysis

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) of 2010 aimed to provide healthcare benefits to the entire US population, limiting barriers between public and private insurance systems. The act introduced age restrictions for young adults to stay on their parents' plan until age 26, restricted insurance companies from charging more fees or offering fewer benefits, and prohibited gender discrimination and lifetime/annual dollar limits. Despite controversies and challenges, the policy created job opportunities in the US healthcare system, increased the economy by $4.4 billion, and provided affordable healthcare to families with low incomes.

ObamaCare - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010
Introduction
The ObamaCare or the Patient Protection and Affordable Act of 2010 are the most controversial
and prominent topic of discussion in the news today. It was enacted on 23rd March 2010 under
the United States healthcare system. This act or law is structured to define the healthcare policy
for entire population residing in the United States. This act was formulated and designed to limit
the barriers and gaps between public and private insurance systems. The foundation elements of
this act are based on employers, which has helped them to restructure the individual insurance
market. This policy has helped families with low income to afford this policy by providing more
and additional medical benefits in the scheme (Tolbert, 2015). This scheme has also helped these
families to get tax exemptions upon purchasing of these schemes.
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ObamaCare - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010
The role of states was clearly defined for its efficient implementation and success rate. They are
as follows: -
 To define parameters that correspond to benefits in individual and small market groups.
 Tighter restrictions on insurance companies.
 States can accept or nullify the expansion of Medicaid policy.
Benefits, Rights, and Protections under ObamaCare: -
 Increase in age for young adults to be associated with their parents plan i.e. 26.
 Putting restrictions on insurance companies as they may charge more fee and fewer
benefits.
 More relaxation while completing insurance applications.
 The insurance companies cannot increase the rates without any prior notification and
serve defined time, till that information gets properly circulated.
 No gender discrimination.
 No life time and annual dollar limits.
 Immediate action over insurance appeals.
 Easy children’s health care insurance program.
 More medical facilities with increasing age.
Views and Perspectives
The ObamaCare or the Patient Protection and Affordable Act of 2010 were implemented and
brought into regulation as it allows individual to have more access to health benefits. It adopted
several new rules and regulations that comply with a modern approach and includes a guarantee
and rate restrictions. This helped the individuals to purchase this policy without owing to their
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ObamaCare - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010
health status. Under this policy, state-based health insurance marketplaces were created. These
marketplaces allowed individuals to buy private insurance that covers the benefits like premium
and cost sharing. Another perspective of this act was the construction of marketplaces in every
state. However, these marketplaces will not run on their own and will have a common governing
body. This insurance (Medicaid) was extended freely for all population, who were below a level
of 138% as per federal poverty level (Tolbert, 2015).
Challenges
The enactment and implementation of this policy rely heavily on state law provisions. Another
major challenge regarding the enactment of this policy was to fulfill the needs of physicians. It
was estimated that 34 million patients would be using this policy for their health and this can
compromise with the quality of the healthcare offered by the department of the United States
(Anderson, 2014). The state and center don't have a uniform code of conduct and policy
regarding the implementation of this act. There is a difference between taxation laws in different
states, which has offered different financial and health care benefits to the customers.
Critical Analysis
The policy is unclear regarding the exchange rates, as it was not established under 42 U. S. C.
§18031, thereby the eligibility of tax credits are undefined as per the language under “Exchange
established by the state” (Jost, 2014). The policy has to be implemented under state laws, but in
certain provisions, no state action was taken for implementing, and the state decisions were
influenced by others. The policy saw several overlapping support from the democrats and the
republicans. Democrats supported it, and the Republicans went against it. This kind of healthcare
system (ACA) would not have been politically feasible it was an individual mandate of Obama
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ObamaCare - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010
that every American should purchase health insurance that made it possible. This is why it is also
called as Obamacare (Lewis, 2017). Implementation of this policy has helped the United States
to create more job opportunities to their citizens as there was an already a shortage of medical
professionals in the United States healthcare system. Uncertainty regarding the coverage
expansions under this act is still there in future. There is no set criteria for including uninsured
people and making them aware regarding this health act.
Summary
Six years after the law has been enacted and implemented, the status and role of PPACA are still
controversial. The success rate is slow, and there is a mixed response from the citizens of the
United States. The ongoing legal challenges, which are faced by Congress has maintained an
uncertainty regarding this act and further implementation. Having so much backlogs and issues,
this act have shown major response in increasing the economy and job opportunities across the
United States.
Future Recommendations
For proper success, implementation, and benefits of this act, a uniform law and implementation
policy must be established. The premiums offered under this act must be categorized as different
individuals may have different perspectives. The tax benefits and exemptions provided under this
act must be uniform under law. The governing body that directs the rules must be one, and the
same must be implemented in all states with equal benefits across different states.
Conclusion
The policy was a huge success, and it was observed that the ObamaCare act offered around one
lakh jobs in the United States healthcare center. It also helped to increase the economy of the
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ObamaCare - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010
United States by $ 4.4 Billion (Hayeman and Weinberg, 2012). The families were covered from
all financial backgrounds and were easily able to afford it. The data received by the end of 2010
tells that at least one medical service was taken by the persons having this policy at no additional
costs. This policy has therefore helped the United States to increase their economy and create
sufficient jobs for their citizens which are estimated to be around 250000- 400000 per year.
References
Anderson, A. (2014). The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on the Health Care Workforce.
Retrieved February 06, 2017, from http://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/report/the-
impact-the-affordable-care-act-the-health-care-workforce.
Haveman, J. D., & Weinberg, M. (2012). The Economic Impact of the Affordable Care Act on
California: A Bay Area Council Economic Institute Report. Bay Area Council Economic
Institute.
Jost, T. S., & Engstrand, J. (2014). Anomalies in the Affordable Care Act That Arise from
Reading the Phrase Exchange Established by the State out of Context. U. Miami Bus. L. Rev.,
23, 249.
Lewis, M. (2017) Obamacare History – Winners & Losers of the Affordable Care Act. Retrieved
February 06, 2017, from http://www.moneycrashers.com/obamacare-history-affordable-care-
act/.
Tolbert, J. (2015). The Coverage Provisions in the Affordable Care Act: An Update. Kaiser
Family Foundation.
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