6 Days Left in Obama's Presidency
Memory 5: Thank you, President Obama, for the passing of the Affordable Care Act ("ACA") which has resulted in nearly 30 million more Americans receiving health insurance.
After many months on the campaign trail arguing for universal health care, just two years into office, President Obama delivered on this promise. He signed the ACA on March 23, 2010. The legislation was created to provide affordable health insurance to millions of Americans who could not get coverage through conventional means.
Either due to cost or pre-existing conditions, tens of millions of Americans were unable to receive vital health coverage. The ACA reversed that. President Obama believes healthcare is a basic human right, not something people should dread because of financial burdens. And that ideal was his primary motive for passing this law. The ACA is responsible for insuring between 20 and 30 million Americans. Prior to its passing, millions were unable to pay for health insurance due to high costs, their employers didn't offer health insurance, individuals with pre-existing condition were excluded, and babies born with birth defects were discriminated against by insurance companies. In addition to offering basic coverage, thanks to the ACA millions of people have access to preventative care such as screenings for cancer.
While not a perfect solution to U.S. health insurance troubles, scrapping the ACA altogether would jeopardize the health and safety of tens of millions of people. That sort of callous, strictly political reflex to the law will cause suffering on an unfathomable scale. It may seem hyperbolic, but people will die if the ACA is repealed without an equally beneficial/affordable replacement.
Today is the National Day of Action with a focus on saving the ACA. I encourage everyone to reach out to their Members of Congress to express their opinions on the issue. The only way the system can be fixed is by hearing from the people it purports to protect.
To learn more about the Affordable Care Act, read an in-depth analysis from a non-profit, nonpartisan corporation, HERE.
