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Morgan Turner
Jennifer Courtney
ENGL 2010

Affordable Care Act: An evaluation

The Affordable Care Act that has been implemented by President Obama, has been the
subject of much controversy. Despite the animosity directed toward the act, there has been much
success in the program. Access of coverage is one of the main concerns about the program and
part of the reason why it was implemented. If individuals in the wealthiest nation in the world are
not able to have coverage, then what could we be doing wrong? Economic concerns are another
focus that inspired the debate which resulted in the Affordable Care Act. Again, referencing the
wealthiest nation in the world, should anyone go without care due to financial concerns? The
coverage of more Americans than ever before is another main concern regarding the reform and
implementation of a new health care system. Is the new system more of a benefit than previous
systems in ensuring health care coverage? There are many dynamics to the reform of health care
implemented by our current president, all of which have had time to tell about their success rates.
According to a study, made by the Leaders in Pharmaceutical Business Intelligence
Group, ER visits have increased in use from newly insured individuals (Ginde, Lowre and JL).
According to this study, emergency departments in the Colorado are receiving less individuals
who are not new members of the Affordable Care Act than those who are. Even according to the
New York Times, there has been a decrease in uninsured Americans that has resulted in
increased coverage (Sanger-Katz). Overall there are a lot more people seeking a lot more medical
attention according to data represented by multiple organizations. The Affordable Care Act has

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been successful in ensuring that those who were previously uninsured are covered with health
care.
The economic feasibility of the Affordable Care Act is just as important as individuals
using the system. According to Ms. Sanger-Katz, Eighty-five percent of those who signed up
during the enrollment period qualified for federal subsidies to help pay premiums (SangerKatz). The fact that such a high percentage of individuals are subsidized is a good indication that
individuals are covered under the current Act. A positive level of participation and enrollment all
lead to the notion that more Americans may be covered than before.
Evidence is debated between the assurances of coverage in the form of insurance under
the new act. Diane Calmus reports that, ACA regulationsearly retirement reinsurance,
dependent coverage up to 26, and pre-existing condition insurance planclearly fail a cost
benefit analysis (Calmus). This evidence is premature and doesnt give the ACA a fair chance to
establish itself. It also places at a contradiction with evidence of previously uninsured individuals
care at Emergency Departments in Colorado. Though the information differs, the more modern
information adds more credibility to the Affordable Care Act.
The Affordable Care Act is legislation that has only been initiated in the last four years.
Despite its relatively new implementation it has received a lot of critique. Overall the system has
led to more coverage of individuals who were previously uninsured. The financial aspect of it
has also helped more families in need, than it has hurt them, by giving them much needed
subsidies. The utilization of this program has also increased since its inception to the modern era
to help represent a lot of uninsured Americans and making sure they have coverage. Overall the
Affordable Care Act has been a successful venture in the means of health care reform.

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Works Cited
AuthorLastName, FirstName. Title of the Book Being Referenced. City Name: Name of
Publisher, Year. Type of Medium (e.g. Print).
Calmus, Diane. The Affordable Care Acts Rulemaking Process: What the Research Shows. 15
October 2012. Web Site. 25 July 2016.
<http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/10/the-affordable-care-acts-rulemakingprocess-what-the-research-shows>.
Ginde, AA, RA Lowre and Wiler JL. Health insurance status change and emergency department
use among US adults. 23 April 2012. Web Page. 25 July 2016.
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22450213>.
LastName, First, Middle. "Article Title." Journal Title (Year): Pages From - To. Print.
Sanger-Katz, Margot. Is the Affordable Care Act Working? 26 October 2014. Web Page. 24 July
2016. <http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/10/27/us/is-the-affordable-care-actworking.html?_r=1#/>.