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The Looming Election Year Debate Over The Affordable Care Act

This article captures the big divide between advocates and detractors of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Good links to various studies.

Proponents say that over 21 million are enrolled in the Exchanges and a total of about 45 million gained coverage including Medicaid expansion.  Opponents argue costs have been huge — 36,798 per additional private insurance enrollee and 20,739 per additional non-group enrollee.  This is well above original estimates. Further, critics say insurers have benefited disproportionately.

Here is my Republican defense of the ACA – as strange as that sounds.

• Yes we could look at reining in the rich benefit, but upfront coverage even at these costs will ultimately save dollars.
• At least some of the costs have been caused by poor policy actions that have driven costs under the Obama and Trump administrations.
• With 45M gaining coverage and tens of millions helped by pre-existing condition rules and the ability to stay on parents’ coverage until age 26, this law is going nowhere.  Reform it – do not repeal it. Opponents have failed to recommend anything that promotes quality coverage.

I also am dubious of the study that says 3 in 4 (73%) U.S. adults “report that in one way or another the healthcare system is failing to meeting their needs.”  Other surveys would suggest general contentment with their coverage and insurer.

#healthcare #healthcarereform #aca #obamacare #exchanges #medicaid 

Link to Article