First Posted: 3/22/2015
Today marks a significant date in the history of public policy: The five-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.
It has brought us the largest change in the uninsured in four decades. History has been made as about 16.4 million uninsured people have gained health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act.
Because of the Affordable Care Act, young adults are able to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26, states can expand their Medicaid programs, and tax credits are available to millions of Americans in all 50 states, making health care coverage more affordable and accessible.
When it comes to the key metrics of affordability, the impact is real. A recent Commonweath Fund study (http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2015/jan/biennial-health-insurance-survey) found that the percentage of adults who had problems paying medical bills or were paying off medical debt declined for the first time in nearly a decade.
Because of the Affordable Care Act, no one can be denied or dropped from coverage because of a pre-existing condition or because they hit an annual or lifetime cap in benefits.
When it comes to quality, Americans say they like their Marketplace coverage. A recent Gallup study found that 7 in 10 who signed up for Marketplace insurance during last Open Enrollment say the quality is excellent or good.
Here in Lima and Allen County, more thana 4,700 uninsured residents have enrolled in health coverage through marketplace insurance or Medicaid expansion.
The Affordable Care Act is not just about a new way to buy insurance. It’s about providing health care to folks who could not access or afford that care before. People who are our neighbors, friends, and family members. People who are part of our community. This is a historic change for the better for all of us.
