Politics and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

 Respond to these two post by expanding on their explanation and providing an example that supports their explanation or respectfully challenging their explanation and providing an example. 

 POST 1

Reelection and effects of repeal/replace ACA

 Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget states “According to our latest estimates, repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in its entirety would cost roughly $350 billion through 2027 under conventional scoring and $150 billion using dynamic scoring. Repealing just ACA’s coverage provisions would save $1.55 trillion through 2027 ($1.75 trillion on a dynamic basis).” (2020). While repealing the ACA may seem costly but, it could save more in the long run. Legislators are being reelected or elected for government based off these agendas. ACA is mainly supported by the democratic party and vice versa. If a Republican party is elected and holds house majority then they will likely repeal and replace. It is said that repealing the ACA will also provide some economic growth. The Democratic government will continue with the ACA and raise taxes to provide the insurance needed through Medicare and Medicaid.

POST 2

Politics and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), implemented in 2010 by the Obama Administration, otherwise known as “Obamacare,” was to ensure all Americans affordable and obtainable healthcare (Affordable Care Act (ACA), (n.d.). According to Milstead and Short (pp. 175, (2019), the United States health insurance “is a form of collectivism in which people pool their risks... risks of incurring medical expenses.” Before the implementation of a new law or act, a cost-benefit analysis, also understood as a comparison of interventional worth and price, must be performed (Cost-Benefit Analysis, (2019). In reference to the ACA and cost-benefit analysis, legislators' decisions regarding policy changes could determine the outcome of re-elections, meaning if legislators fail to fulfill campaign promises, their time in office could be short. In reference to Milstead and Short (pp.176, (2019), “changing the manner in which all Americans obtain health insurance is extremely complex; any changes enacted by legislators will take years to implement.” Even though legislators choose health-related topics for debatable discussion while campaigning for re-election, they could fail to be re-elected and not see these interventions come into effect. Legislators' decisions, unfortunately, are based on personal efforts for re-election and not based on the real effects of the new policy upon fellow Americans (Milstead, J & Short, N, pp. 40, (2019).

Congress Decisions Impacting Medicaid and Medicare

            “More than 20 million Americans who previously were uninsured gained coverage from 2010 to 2017.” (Rovner, Juile.2018). More Americans being covered under insurance can improve the health of individuals in the community. It also effects the hospital systems treating insured patients, allowing them to receive the payment for treatments rendered. Whatever congress’s decisions will be on what to do about ACA will affect American citizens and Medicaid/Medicare one way or another. One by many people loosing insurance or taxes and penalties being decreased.