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The Affordable Care Act (ACA)

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Like every law, the Affordable Care Act passed in March of 2010 has its positives and its negatives. While there are numerous benefits that will come to pass due to the act, there are also several factors preventing many states from fully enacting the new requirements of the law. In fact, many are fighting the new policy. For all of the arguments centering the new health care act, the benefits offered by the ACA far outweigh the negatives. The law looks to expand coverage and care, as well as reduce the overall costs of healthcare services and will benefit millions. The ACA will primarily expand coverage, providing people with more access to health insurance, this does not, and however, mean that health care will become universal. Employees …show more content…

Under the ACA there are 10 essential benefits that must be provided in health care plans, including but not limited to preventive care, and pediatric dental and vision services. Both of these policies focus on the reduction of treatment of chronic disease by eliminating them at a younger age. This is done through dental and vision checkups for children which will reduce oral and optic complication later in life. The preventive care offered by the ACA will promote holistic health limiting the spread of infectious diseases, the development of cancers, and avoiding chronic disease development through screenings and vaccinations. By limiting the development of chronic diseases we avoid much higher costs in treatment. Diseases that are allowed to progress to more advanced stages often are more difficult to treat or cure, costing the patient both time and money. Sometimes it is necessary to administer expensive procedures and pricey medications that may or may not have the desired …show more content…

Insurance companies and health care providers have several methods of controlling prices and making profits. The ACA makes efforts to restrict the high costs of health care through new limits on out of pocket costs, removal of life time limits in insurance companies, and placing restrictions on denial of coverage to enrollees with preexisting conditions. The lifetime limits and high out of pocket costs are ways for insurance agencies to spend less money on their beneficiaries. By restricting access to care for those with preexisting conditions, they limit the amount they need to spend on expensive treatments for patients with conditions such as cancer and HIV which can cost companies millions of dollars. These changes will grant care to those that need it the most. In addition to controlling the cost of services provided to enrollees, there will also be changes in prices for insurance itself. The law establishes insurance exchanges that will help regulate the premiums for insurance by keeping companies and their rates

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