Five Years Later, The Affordable Care Act Has Transformed Our Health Care System
Five years ago, the idea that healthcare reform would give millions of uninsured Americans health coverage, guarantee access to insurance to people with pre-existing conditions, eliminate lifetime limits on Americans’ health coverage, and help slow the growth of healthcare costs sounded ambitious to put it gently. But five years after the passage of the Affordable Care Act, all of that has become a reality.
In a speech this morning, President Obama spoke about how health care reform has now been woven into the fabric of America. “So five years in, what we are talking about it is no longer just a law. It’s no longer just a theory. This isn’t even just about the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare. This isn’t about myths or rumors that folks try to sustain. There is a reality that people on the ground day to day are experiencing. Their lives are better,” he said. The reality is that the ACA has succeeded at delivering quality, affordable health care to millions of Americans. Here is some proof:
Despite all the evidence that the law is working, opponents of the ACA continue to work to undo all its success. The president put it best this morning when he said, “It seems so cynical… to punish millions with higher costs of care and unravel what’s now been woven into the fabric of America.” With King v. Burwell the Supreme Court has the potential to reverse much of the progress health care law has made and take away the peace of mind that millions of Americans have gained thanks to the law’s success.
For more about the impacts of King v. Burwell, check out this new video from the Center for American Progress and visit HearTheNine.org to read stories from Americans whose health coverage is on the line.
BOTTOM LINE: Since the Affordable Care Act went into effect, millions of previously uninsured Americans have gained health coverage. American families have been saved from financial catastrophe and lives have been saved. But still, despite the fact that none of the doom-and-gloom predictions came to pass, ideologically-charged politicians continue to try to undo all the progress that has been made.
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