The Affordable Care Act - At Year One
Elena Ong
March 26, 2011
A year ago, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on March 23, and the Education & Health Care Affordability Reconciliation Act on March 30. The combined legislation guarantees health coverage to nearly all Americans, by investing in a paradigm that produces value and health, in the short- and long-run.
For many, the Act didn´t go far enough, but it was a much-needed solution in how we pay for and produce health. For me, the Act isn't only about how we deliver health care, it's about managing the health and wealth – the "wellth management" of our people, our economy, our nation.
As a clinician and public health professional, I care about advancing the health and economic well-being of all Americans. I was on the Hill in March, 2010, advocating for the successful passage of both Acts. I can vividly remember the labor pains - the intensity of the drama and the dialogue, and what it took to get to deliver the Affordable Care Act with an APGAR score of 9-10.
Was it worth it?
Yes.
At age one, are Americans, and America, better off?
Yes.
The Act is a welcome breakthrough in how we practice medicine, because it shifts the paradigm to focus on creating health, through wellness, prevention, value and quality - not just by providing additional services.
The law protects Americans, and American businesses, by providing competitive pricing, and more freedom and control over health care choices.
At age one, Americans are enjoying lower costs, better quality coverage, and economic improvement.
1. Lower Costs
Seniors have the freedom to get the care they need, including free preventive care, lower cost prescription drugs and Medicare they can count on.
Up to 4 million small businesses could increase productivity by receiving health care tax credits that make employee health coverage more affordable.
Insurance companies are not allowed to overcharge consumers.
2. Better Quality Coverage:
All Americans in new insurance plans receive preventive services without being charged a deductible, co-payment or co-insurance.
Children with pre-existing conditions will not be denied coverage in new health plans.
Children, under 26, will be eligible to be covered under their parent´s health plan.
Adults with pre-existing conditions can buy coverage through a new Pre-Existing Condition Plan.
People with insurance are free from worrying about losing their insurance due to a mistake on their application, or having it capped unexpectedly if someone is in an accident or becomes sick.
3. Economic Improvement:
Since the ACA was signed into law, the economy created over 1 million private sector jobs.
In the period during, and right after the enactment of the law, the economy grew 2.7%.
By increasing the risk-pool and expanding coverage to all Americans, the Act reduces the amount businesses pay for uncompensated care. Employers can reduce their health bill by by applying for the $40 billion that is available for small business health care tax credits. When businesses spend less on this "hidden tax" they have the wealth to create 300,000+ more jobs.
The Act lowers the federal deficit by $100+ billion in this decade, and by more than $1 trillion in the following decade.
In contrast, the notion of repealing the Affordable Care Act would have a devastating impact on Americans and America´s economy.
Repeal would do more harm than good.
Repeal would:
Increase the number of uninsured by 32 million Americans.
Force consumers who buy coverage in the individual market to pay more out-of-pocket for fewer benefits – which could add up to $2,000/family premium/annually and increase overall medical spending $185 billion by the end of the decade.
Make it difficult for consumers and providers to practice wellness, create pent-up demand, and increase the costly and preventable burden of chronic disease.
Suppress entrepreneurship and prevent 250,000-400,000 jobs/year from being created over the next decade.
Increase the federal deficit by $230 billion in the first decade and more than a trillion in the second decade.
Medical care accounts for one-sixth the economy. That's why it´s important to improve health to control costs, in the short-run, and the long-run.
It took 70 years, and some argue, nearly a century, to propose and pass a health coverage bill the magnitude of the Affordable Care Act, so it´s important not to undo the progress that has been, and will be, made.
That´s why I´m glad that 200 events were planned during Affordable Care Act Week, with small business, elderly, consumers, women and youth, sharing their stories about how their lives have been transformed as a result of the Act; with social workers and health providers conducting health fairs and enrollment eligibility fairs; with Congressmembers, Administrators, and State Elected Officials listening to what their constituents want from the Act.
Towards that goal, I hope we continue to work together with the individuals we met at these respective ACA anniversary/birthday parties, to ensure that all Americans will continue to benefit from the Act.
Let´s continue to invest in the future by developing the resources – the in-language videos, the navigators, the federally qualified health centers – that can ensure Americans of all cultures have equal access to information about the Act in English, Spanish, Braille, Sign, Asian, Native American languages, etc. - and feature those resources at upcoming meetings of the public health, medical, nursing, allied health, social work, business, and legal, professions.
Let´s invest ahead, and plan ahead, to have eligibility and health fairs throughout 2011/12, particularly when the Act turns two on March 23, 2012, a milestone along the path of a sustainable health solution.
Let's keep our eye on the future, when the Act turns 10 on March 23, 2020, and lowers the federal deficit by a projected $100-143 billion.
Let's continue to keep our eye on the prize, when the Act turns 20 on March 23, 2030, and lowers the federal deficit by a projected trillion dollars.
For many, the Act didn´t go far enough, but it was a much-needed solution in how we pay for and produce health. For me, the Act isn't only about how we deliver health care, it's about managing the health and wealth – the "wellth management" of our people, our economy, our nation.
As a clinician and public health professional, I care about advancing the health and economic well-being of all Americans. I was on the Hill in March, 2010, advocating for the successful passage of both Acts. I can vividly remember the labor pains - the intensity of the drama and the dialogue, and what it took to get to deliver the Affordable Care Act with an APGAR score of 9-10.
Was it worth it?
Yes.
At age one, are Americans, and America, better off?
Yes.
The Act is a welcome breakthrough in how we practice medicine, because it shifts the paradigm to focus on creating health, through wellness, prevention, value and quality - not just by providing additional services.
The law protects Americans, and American businesses, by providing competitive pricing, and more freedom and control over health care choices.
At age one, Americans are enjoying lower costs, better quality coverage, and economic improvement.
1. Lower Costs
Seniors have the freedom to get the care they need, including free preventive care, lower cost prescription drugs and Medicare they can count on.
Up to 4 million small businesses could increase productivity by receiving health care tax credits that make employee health coverage more affordable.
Insurance companies are not allowed to overcharge consumers.
2. Better Quality Coverage:
All Americans in new insurance plans receive preventive services without being charged a deductible, co-payment or co-insurance.
Children with pre-existing conditions will not be denied coverage in new health plans.
Children, under 26, will be eligible to be covered under their parent´s health plan.
Adults with pre-existing conditions can buy coverage through a new Pre-Existing Condition Plan.
People with insurance are free from worrying about losing their insurance due to a mistake on their application, or having it capped unexpectedly if someone is in an accident or becomes sick.
3. Economic Improvement:
Since the ACA was signed into law, the economy created over 1 million private sector jobs.
In the period during, and right after the enactment of the law, the economy grew 2.7%.
By increasing the risk-pool and expanding coverage to all Americans, the Act reduces the amount businesses pay for uncompensated care. Employers can reduce their health bill by by applying for the $40 billion that is available for small business health care tax credits. When businesses spend less on this "hidden tax" they have the wealth to create 300,000+ more jobs.
The Act lowers the federal deficit by $100+ billion in this decade, and by more than $1 trillion in the following decade.
In contrast, the notion of repealing the Affordable Care Act would have a devastating impact on Americans and America´s economy.
Repeal would do more harm than good.
Repeal would:
Increase the number of uninsured by 32 million Americans.
Force consumers who buy coverage in the individual market to pay more out-of-pocket for fewer benefits – which could add up to $2,000/family premium/annually and increase overall medical spending $185 billion by the end of the decade.
Make it difficult for consumers and providers to practice wellness, create pent-up demand, and increase the costly and preventable burden of chronic disease.
Suppress entrepreneurship and prevent 250,000-400,000 jobs/year from being created over the next decade.
Increase the federal deficit by $230 billion in the first decade and more than a trillion in the second decade.
Medical care accounts for one-sixth the economy. That's why it´s important to improve health to control costs, in the short-run, and the long-run.
It took 70 years, and some argue, nearly a century, to propose and pass a health coverage bill the magnitude of the Affordable Care Act, so it´s important not to undo the progress that has been, and will be, made.
That´s why I´m glad that 200 events were planned during Affordable Care Act Week, with small business, elderly, consumers, women and youth, sharing their stories about how their lives have been transformed as a result of the Act; with social workers and health providers conducting health fairs and enrollment eligibility fairs; with Congressmembers, Administrators, and State Elected Officials listening to what their constituents want from the Act.
Towards that goal, I hope we continue to work together with the individuals we met at these respective ACA anniversary/birthday parties, to ensure that all Americans will continue to benefit from the Act.
Let´s continue to invest in the future by developing the resources – the in-language videos, the navigators, the federally qualified health centers – that can ensure Americans of all cultures have equal access to information about the Act in English, Spanish, Braille, Sign, Asian, Native American languages, etc. - and feature those resources at upcoming meetings of the public health, medical, nursing, allied health, social work, business, and legal, professions.
Let´s invest ahead, and plan ahead, to have eligibility and health fairs throughout 2011/12, particularly when the Act turns two on March 23, 2012, a milestone along the path of a sustainable health solution.
Let's keep our eye on the future, when the Act turns 10 on March 23, 2020, and lowers the federal deficit by a projected $100-143 billion.
Let's continue to keep our eye on the prize, when the Act turns 20 on March 23, 2030, and lowers the federal deficit by a projected trillion dollars.
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