71 million Americans in private health insurance plans received coverage for at least one free preventive health care service, such as a mammogram or flu shot, in 2011 and 2012 because of the Affordable Care Act.
Additionally, an estimated 34 million Americans in traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans have received at least one preventive service, such as an annual wellness visit at no out of pocket cost because of the health care law.
Taken together, this means about 105 million Americans with private health plans and Medicare beneficiaries have been helped by the Affordable Care Act’s prevention coverage improvements.
According to this report:
The Affordable Care Act is giving Americans better value for their health insurance plans by:
- Eliminating lifetime dollar caps on essential health benefits, and phasing out annual caps.
- Prohibiting health insurance companies from denying coverage to children based on a pre-existing condition, such as asthma or cancer.
- And in 2014, it will be illegal for health insurance companies to deny coverage to any American or to charge more because of a pre-existing condition. No longer will 129 million Americans with health conditions have to fear seeing their premiums increased or getting locked out of the insurance market.
- The law will also make it illegal for a health insurer to charge women more simply because they are women. “That means,” Secretary Sebelius said, “being a woman will no longer be a pre-existing condition.”
Some think not. There are a lot of different areas of healthcare that will not improve.
- There will be a shortage of healthcare professionals.
A new study by the National Monitor predicts that the implementation of the PPACA, coupled with the nation’s aging population, could lead to a shortage of 52,000 primary care physicians by 2025.
The study also noted that office visits to primary care physicians will likely increase from 462 million to 565 million by 2025, further straining the system.
The shortage will be made worse by funding cuts for residency programs for newly graduated physicians. Without the hands-on training, quality will suffer. Residency is vital to the success of doctors of all specialties.
Higher drug costs. Pharmaceutical companies will pay an extra $84.8 billion in fees over the next ten years to pay for closing the "donut hole" in Medicare. This could raise drug costs if they pass these fees on to consumers.
Obamacare does not apply to businesses with less than 50 employees. Larger businesses are required to offer health insurance, but receive tax credits to help employees pay premiums. In 2014, the tax credit increases to 50%.
Higher deductibles and fines to poor Americans. Those who don't purchase insurance, and don't qualify for Medicaid or subsidies, will be assessed a tax of $95 (or 1% of income, whichever is higher) in 2014. It increases to $325 (or 2% of income) in 2015, and $695 (or 2.5% of income) in 2016.
Employment and benefit losses. Even now employers are making tough decisions. People who have been full time workers are being reclassified as part-time workers and as a result are losing benefits. The employers cannot afford to pay insurance premiums for their employees. Some are changing to a higher deductible plans for families. That means more hardships for families as they, too, are making tough choices.
Between 3-5 million people could lose their company-sponsored health care plans. Many businesses will find it more cost-effective to pay the penalty and let their employees purchase their own insurance plans on the exchanges. Other small businesses might find they can get a better plan through the state-run exchanges.
ObamaCare is going to be about more than making healthcare choices. It is going to affect our everyday lives because of job losses, less hours, and reduced benefits, higher deductibles and co-pays...and the list goes on.
So, while the government says The Affordable Care Act is a good thing, many disagree and are forced to make difficult decisions that will affect many for generations to come.
Thanks for reading,
Donna McHugh, CMRS
Resources:
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/full.html
http://aspe.hhs.gov/health/reports/2013/PreventiveServices/ib_prevention.cfm
Healthcare.gov
(Source: CBO CBO Report on Health Care Reform and the Budget; Wall Street Journal, What Health Insurance Ruling Means, June 28, 2012; NPR, Medicaid Expansion, June 27, 2012)
Obamacare Cons
( Washington Post Factchecker, Tax Breaks vs Tax Hikes, July 6, 2012)
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