Understanding the Affordable Care Act: A Comprehensive Guide

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.

Did you know, before the Affordable Care Act (ACA), 15% of Americans didn’t have health insurance? That’s about 48 million people without proper healthcare¹. By 2016, this number had fallen to 10.9%, all thanks to the ACA¹. You’re about to learn all about Obamacare, and its essential parts in this user-friendly guide.

In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the ACA into law. Its goal was to change how healthcare works in the U.S².. Imagine a superhero creating a marketplace for health insurance. This hero’s aim is to ensure everyone can get healthcare. The ACA also made shopping for insurance as easy as ordering pizza online.

But, the ACA isn’t just about providing more coverage. It’s also about being fair. It made sure insurance companies can’t turn you down or charge a lot just because you had health issues before³. So, no matter your health lifestyle, you can get health insurance.

This guide will show you how the ACA changed healthcare. It lets young adults stay on their parents’ insurance until they’re 26. It also requires health plans to cover everything from check-ups to mental health care³. Get ready for an exciting journey through the impact of healthcare reform.

Key Takeaways

• The ACA significantly reduced the number of uninsured Americans from 15% to 10.9%.
• Obamacare created a Health Insurance Marketplace for easy plan comparison and purchase.
• Pre-existing conditions can no longer be used to deny coverage or charge higher premiums.
• Young adults can stay on their parents’ insurance until age 26.
• The ACA mandates essential health benefits, including preventive care and mental health services.
• Medicaid expansion and subsidies make healthcare more affordable for low-income individuals and families.

What is the Affordable Care Act?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, started on March 23, 2010⁴. It aims to make health insurance easier to get and more affordable for Americans. This law is a big deal in healthcare reform, and we’ll take a closer look at it here.

Definition and Basic Principles

The ACA’s main goal is to expand health insurance and keep people safe. It added things like health insurance markets and help for those with low incomes. It also made strong rules to protect patients⁴.

Historical Context and Implementation

The ACA made big changes in health care. It got rid of denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. Also, it let young adults stay on their parents’ insurance up to age 26. Plus, health plans had to cover essential health benefits by law⁴. The law created Covered California, a place to compare health plans and get help paying for them⁴.

Key Objectives of the ACA

The ACA has three main aims:

• Expand health insurance coverage
• Improve healthcare quality
• Reduce healthcare costs

To reach these goals, the ACA started the “individual mandate.” This rule says most Americans must have health insurance or pay a tax penalty⁴. It also made Medicaid cover more low-income people and their families⁴.

The ACA made big changes in American healthcare. It works to offer better insurance and care for all⁴⁵⁶.

The Three Primary Goals of the ACA

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) wanted to fix big problems in U.S. healthcare. It aimed to achieve three key goals. These goals were to make health insurance cheaper, expand Medicaid, and lower healthcare costs.

It started by making health insurance more affordable for millions. Before the ACA, 49 million Americans didn’t have health insurance⁷. The ACA helped by giving families subsidies. This made healthcare less expensive. For example, a family of four could get help paying for their insurance. Their monthly payments dropped to about $100 thanks to these subsidies⁸.

It also focused on making Medicaid available to more people. The ACA allowed more adults to qualify for Medicaid if they earned less than 138% of the federal poverty level in certain states⁹. Businesses liked this idea. They thought it could help lower healthcare costs for everyone.

Lastly, the ACA wanted to stop healthcare costs from going up too much. In 2011, the U.S. spent more money on healthcare per person than 34 other countries⁷. It introduced new healthcare methods to help, like accountable care organizations. These changes aimed to focus more on preventing health issues than just treating them⁸.

By tackling these goals, the ACA aimed to change the U.S. healthcare system for the better. It wanted to expand coverage, make Medicaid bigger, and keep healthcare costs under control.

Expanding Health Insurance Coverage

The Affordable Care Act wants to increase the number of people with health insurance. It does this through many different plans and changes. These can help you get better access to healthcare.

Medicaid Expansion

The ACA lets more people join Medicaid by increasing the age limit to 65. If your income is up to 138% of the federal poverty level, you might qualify¹⁰. This new rule has been accepted by most states, making it easier for many to get covered¹¹. But, if you live in a state that didn’t expand Medicaid, you might not be able to get help. You could earn too little for help paying for insurance on the Marketplaces, yet too much for Medicaid¹⁰.

Health Insurance Marketplaces

The ACA also set up the Health Insurance Marketplaces. These let you see and choose between different plans. If you earn between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, you can get help with costs through tax credits¹⁰. The Marketplaces have made it easier to apply for Medicaid, CHIP, and subsidized plans. This helped more people sign up for health coverage¹¹.

Coverage for Young Adults

For those under 30, there’s a specific health plan called “Catastrophic.” Young adults can also stay on their parents’ insurance until they turn 26. This has increased coverage for people in this age group¹⁰.

These policy changes could greatly affect health insurance coverage. By doing all five, 3.7 million more people could be covered in 2023. This would cost the government $50.4 billion more¹². Over ten years, the government would spend $606 billion extra and increase the debt by $575 billion¹².

Protection for Consumers

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) brings big changes for your healthcare safety. Now, insurance companies can’t turn you down or make you pay more for having past health issues⁵.

This law makes sure you get services that are vital to your health. You won’t pay extra for check-ups. It’s a way to keep your health in good shape without spending a lot⁵.

But that’s not all. Do you remember the “donut hole” in Medicare? In 2010, over 4 million older folks got a $250 check to help them buy their meds¹³.

If you’re a young adult, you’re in luck. Now, you can be on your parents’ plan up to age 26. This rule started in late 2010¹³.

“The ACA is like a superhero cape for healthcare consumers, shielding them from unfair practices and ensuring they get the care they deserve.”

The ACA makes things clear with insurance companies, too. They have to explain why they’re raising prices. If their hikes are too big, some states won’t let them sell health plans there¹³.

Let’s see what these ACA rules mean for you:

⁵

These steps protect your health and money. Thanks to the ACA, you can worry less about your healthcare costs.

Essential Health Benefits Under the ACA

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) changed health insurance in the U.S. It made essential health benefits mandatory. You may wonder what’s covered and how it helps you.

Mandatory Coverage Areas

Under the ACA, all health plans must include 10 essential benefits. These cover emergencies, hospital stays, mental health, prescriptions, and check-ups¹⁴. They also include dental for kids, ensuring everyone gets needed care¹⁴.

Preventive Care with No Cost-Sharing

The ACA made preventive services free. This includes shots, baby check-ups, cancer tests, and mental health checks¹⁴. It feels like someone watching out for your health!

Impact on Insurance Plan Designs

The ACA shaped how health plans work. Small group plans and large employers now cover essential benefits¹⁵¹⁴. So you get better coverage, no matter where you work.

In 2023, 16.3 million people got marketplace insurance during open enrollment¹⁵. With these benefits, more Americans like you have better health coverage¹⁶¹⁵¹⁴.

The Individual Mandate: Understanding Its Role

You might have heard of the individual mandate in the Affordable Care Act. It made most Americans get health insurance or pay a fine. The idea was to have more people insured and share risk among a larger group.

In 2022, a huge 15 million people signed up for health insurance¹⁷. That’s a lot of folks! But here’s the twist: the penalty for not having insurance ended in 2019¹⁸.

Now, you might ask, “Why is this important?” Well, without the penalty, fewer people, 2.8 million less, got insurance. And the cost of some insurance plans went up by 3 to 13 percent¹⁹. It’s been quite a journey!

But there’s even more to the story. Some places, like California and Massachusetts, made their own rules even after the federal change¹⁷. These places kept the idea of the mandate going, like hosts of an everlasting party.

Even if the national mandate penalty is no more, some states are sticking to the plan. It’s like a health insurance dance party, and these states are not stopping!

Affordable Care Act and Pre-existing Conditions

Since 2014, the ACA changed insurance for many. No longer can insurers say no or ask for more money for past health issues²⁰. This helped millions get health insurance they can afford.

Prohibition of Coverage Denial

Before, a chronic illness might mean no coverage. Now, all health plans sold in the marketplace must cover past health issues without any extra cost²⁰. This helps over 53 million people with health issues not to be turned away²¹.

Impact on Insurance Premiums

The ACA made getting coverage easier. But, it also had some effects on the cost of insurance. Some payments might be higher because more kinds of people are insured. Yet, this change stops insurers from raising the prices only because of health history²².

Benefits for Individuals with Chronic Conditions

If you have a chronic condition, the ACA supports you. You can pick a health plan without worry of being denied or charged more²². This is very important for many families, where some have health issues²¹.

Your health doesn’t block you from insurance anymore. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got diabetes, cancer, or are pregnant. With the ACA, everyone gets a fair chance at health coverage²⁰²¹²².

Health Insurance Marketplaces: How They Work

Let’s talk about health insurance marketplaces. They’re where you can easily compare and buy health plans. These platforms, known as insurance exchanges, simplify the process²³.

Think of it as a digital mall for health insurance. You step in and see many plans that suit your needs and budget. You just enter your info, and there you have it – options perfect for you²⁴.

Covered California provides four plan types: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. These each offer different levels of coverage. It’s like picking your class, but for health care²⁴!

During open enrollment, from November 1 to January 15, is your chance to sign up. Your new coverage then begins in January or February²³²⁵.

If something big in life happens – like getting married or losing a job – you might get extra time to choose a plan. This is called a special enrollment period, and it lasts at least 60 days²⁵.

It’s crucial to compare different plans. Check the costs and what each plan covers. It’s all about finding the right one for you. So, enjoy the process!

Ready to look more into it? Visit your state’s marketplace options today. Find a health plan that meets all your needs.

Premium Tax Credits and Cost-Sharing Reductions

Health insurance can be confusing, but knowing about premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions helps. This knowledge makes insurance more budget-friendly.

Eligibility Criteria

If your income hits the federal poverty level, you could get premium tax credits. This option is open to all income levels until 2025²⁶. You also need U.S. citizenship or lawful presence for eligibility²⁶. Silver plan cost-sharing reductions are for incomes at or below 250% of the poverty line²⁶.

Calculation Methods

For premium tax credits, the amount changes with your household’s estimated income. Higher earners will pay a bigger part of their insurance²⁷²⁶. Your credit is based on the cost of the second-least expensive silver plan²⁶. For cost-sharing reductions, the less you earn in the qualifying range, the more savings you get on expenses²⁸.

Application Process

Go to the Health Insurance Marketplace to sign up for these subsidies. It’s important to update them about income or family size changes right away. Doing this could raise or lower your premium tax credit²⁷.

“Understanding your eligibility for premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions can make a world of difference in your healthcare costs. Don’t leave money on the table!”

You can use premium tax credits to lower your monthly premiums or claim them during tax season²⁶. But, don’t get more advance payments than you qualify for. You’ll have to pay back the excess when filing your taxes²⁷.

Employer Shared Responsibility Under the ACA

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) brings some big changes for large employers. If a business has 50 or more full-time workers, it must meet certain health insurance rules²⁹.

One rule is they must offer health coverage to at least 95% of their full-time staff and their families. If they fail to do this, they face serious penalties. This penalty is $2,000 for each employee over a threshold, except for the first 30 workers²⁹.

But that’s not all. The insurance they offer must be affordable too. According to the ACA, what employees pay for insurance can’t be more than 9.83% of their house’s yearly income. If the coverage isn’t affordable, a penalty might apply for employees who get help from the government³⁰.

Affordability Safe Harbors

The ACA has options for businesses to make health insurance more affordable with safe harbors. These safe harbors look at different factors like your workers’ wages or their pay rate. You can choose different methods for meeting these affordability requirements. It’s quite flexible³¹!

And don’t forget, the rules include all employees who work an average of 30 hours weekly. For those in education, like adjunct faculty, there’s a special rule. You can count 21/4 hours per teaching hour³⁰.

The employer mandate does sound challenging. But its goal is to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for more Americans. So, let’s make sure we’re doing our part right!

The Affordable Care Act and Small Businesses

The Affordable Care Act, or ACA, has made big changes for small businesses in the U.S. It has changed the way small businesses look at health insurance and tax benefits³².

SHOP Marketplace: A New Avenue for Coverage

The SHOP Marketplace helps small businesses greatly. If your business has 50 or fewer full-time workers, you can buy health insurance through the SHOP platform³³. Some states let companies with up to 100 employees join too³³.

Small Business Tax Credits: Easing the Financial Burden

Here’s some good news for small businesses. You might get a tax credit if you have fewer than 25 full-time people working for you³³. This tax credit helps lower the cost of offering health insurance. After the ACA, the number of uninsured small-business workers dropped significantly³².

ACA Compliance: What You Need to Know

Understanding ACA compliance is essential for small businesses. If you have 50 or more workers, you must provide health insurance that meets ACA standards³⁴³³. Otherwise, you may face penalties.

All businesses must be transparent and provide a Summary of Benefits and Coverage to employees. Not doing this could lead to penalties. So, it’s important to follow the rules³⁴.

It’s good to remember the ACA does more than just these things. It has changed how small businesses provide health insurance. Now, over 5.7 million workers from small businesses have health insurance through the ACA marketplaces³². Keep up to date and talk to experts to use these benefits well for your business.

Impact of the ACA on Healthcare Costs

Ever wondered how the Affordable Care Act (ACA) changed your budget? Let’s look at the figures. We’ll see how this law influenced health costs in the country.

The ACA shifted the game for healthcare spending. It slowed the rise of costs, now about a fifth of the U.S. economy³⁵. In 2019, the federal government spent $128 billion on things like Medicaid expansion and market subsidies. This was $44 billion less than expected³⁶!

What about your expenses? If you have an ACA plan, your out-of-pocket spending might be lower³⁶. The costs for employer insurance also went up at a small rate³⁷. The ACA did more than save money. It made healthcare spending wiser.

Medical Loss Ratio: Your Friend in Cost Control

Do you know about the medical loss ratio? It’s an important ACA rule. It makes sure insurance companies use most of your money for healthcare. This rule helps stabilize insurance costs and gives you better value for your money.

“The ACA has had far-reaching cost effects on the entire health care industry, impacting cost growth for health services in Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace plans.”

Numbers show the truth. From 2010 to 2017, yearly healthcare spending only went up by 3.6% – quite low compared to the past³⁷. Medicare spending even went down from 2010 to 2018³⁷! This is real progress.

Healthcare costs can still be tough, but the ACA has moved us in the right direction. It’s improved our health system’s efficiency and cost-effectiveness. That’s truly good news to celebrate, isn’t it³⁶³⁵³⁷?

Challenges and Controversies Surrounding the ACA

Since its start, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has faced many obstacles. You’ve likely followed the legal fights, the health reform talks, and the problems with rolling it out. These issues have ensured the ACA stays in the public eye.

Legal Challenges

The ACA has seen its fair share of time in court. In a recent case, Braidwood Management v. Becerra, the fight puts at risk free health checks for over 150 million who have private coverage and around 20 million on Medicaid³⁸. This argument is over certain health services that are part of the ACA’s best practices. It shows the ongoing legal struggles the ACA faces³⁸.

Political Debates

Talks about healthcare reform continue to split the country. While the ACA is seen in a good light by 62% of Americans, this view differs greatly by party. A big 87% of Democrats and 65% of Independents support it. However, 66% of Republicans are against it³⁹.

Implementation Hurdles

In 2010, the ACA set a goal: to get 47 million uninsured Americans covered. By April 2015, progress had been made. Nearly 17 million more people had health insurance⁴⁰. But, there are still problems. For example, stopping subsidies for those with low to medium incomes in some states could mean insurance drops from 13.7 million to 4.1 million. This might leave 8 million people without coverage⁴⁰.

In spite of problems, the ACA has helped many. It has made getting health insurance easier for 39% of adults. And 25% say it has benefitted them in some way³⁹. As the discussion carries on, what’s next for this major health law is unclear.

Future of the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is still changing, offering a journey full of surprises. With both new policies and changes to the ACA, it’s clear that healthcare reform is ongoing. Fortunately, more people are joining the ACA, showing their support.

This means that you’re in for some shocking numbers. For instance, in February, over 15.7 million individuals signed up for Obamacare plans. This was a 13% increase compared to the year before. Then, during the 2024 open enrollment, 7.3 million chose their plans in just five weeks, marking a 34% increase⁴¹.

The ACA is more popular than ever, with nearly 60% of grown-ups liking it. This is a big jump from the 43% approval it had in 2016. Thanks to this support, the ACA environment is becoming busier. More choices and activities are available now than ever before⁴².

But there’s even better news to come! At the end of 2021, the number of uninsured people in the U.S. dropped to 8.8%. This is really close to the lowest rate we’ve seen. It means about 4.9 million Americans now have insurance they didn’t have last year⁴³.

“The ACA’s impact on reducing the uninsured rate has been nothing short of remarkable. It’s changing lives, one policy at a time.”

As we move forward in healthcare reform, be ready for more changes to the ACA. With more health insurers and increasing public support, the ACA’s future looks bright. Keep watching for more news and updates on this healthcare journey!

Want to know more about the ACA’s effect? Explore this in-depth report on the uninsured and ACA coverage.

Conclusion

Well, folks, you’ve just taken a whirlwind tour through the maze of healthcare reform, and boy, has it been a ride! The Affordable Care Act, lovingly nicknamed Obamacare, has been shaking up the U.S. healthcare system like a giant snow globe. It’s expanded health insurance coverage faster than you can say “pre-existing condition,” with the uninsured population shrinking by a whopping 20 million from 2010 to 2020⁴⁴. That’s like wiping out the entire population of Florida!

The ACA has made finding affordable health plans much easier. Before, it was like trying to nail jelly to a wall. But now, it’s a lot simpler. The percentage of working-age adults who found it hard to get health plans has almost halved from 2010 to 2016⁴⁵. And if you earn less than $48,500 a year, it gets even better. The number of uninsured folks dropped drastically by about 17 percentage points from its 2010 high⁴⁵. That’s a huge change for many families!

The ACA has seen its fair share of challenges, just like someone on a reality TV show. But through all the political debates and legal fights, it’s still in place. In 2022, Marketplace enrollment hit a record high of 14, showing how much Americans want affordable healthcare⁴⁴. The journey of healthcare reform goes on, but the ACA has changed America’s healthcare story forever. Let’s hope your health costs as little as this ending does!

Source Links

1. Understanding the Affordable Care Act – https://www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/health-insurance-guide/affordable-care-act/
2. What is Obamacare? And How Does it Work? | eHealth – https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/resources/affordable-care-act/understanding-obamacare
3. Understanding the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) | eHealth – https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/resources/affordable-care-act/understanding-the-aca
4. The Affordable Care Act – https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/110-health/10-basics/aca.cfm
5. Affordable Care Act Overview – https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/understanding-insurance/healthreform
6. The Affordable Care Act 101 | KFF – https://www.kff.org/health-policy-101-the-affordable-care-act/
7. Microsoft Word – ACA Overview Final.docx – https://mch.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ACA-Overview.pdf
8. The Affordable Care Act: Objectives and Likely Results in an Imperfect World – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3767707/
9. Affordable Care Act General Information – https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/recent-legislative-changes/affordable-care-act/affordable-care-act-general-information
10. Medicaid expansion & what it means for you – https://www.healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip/medicaid-expansion-and-you/
11. Overview of the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid : MACPAC – https://www.macpac.gov/subtopic/overview-of-the-affordable-care-act-and-medicaid/
12. Next Steps in Expanding Health Coverage and Affordability – https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2022/sep/next-steps-expanding-health-coverage-affordability
13. Key Features of the Affordable Care Act by Year – The Impacts of the Affordable Care Act on Preparedness Resources and Programs – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK241401/
14. Essential Health Benefits in Your ACA Plan – GoodRx – https://www.goodrx.com/insurance/aca/affordable-care-act-essential-health-benefits
15. What are essential health benefits? | healthinsurance.org – https://www.healthinsurance.org/glossary/essential-health-benefits/
16. Find out what Marketplace health insurance plans cover – https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/what-marketplace-plans-cover/
17. Understanding the Affordable Care Act Individual Mandate – SBMA Benefits – https://www.sbmabenefits.com/understanding-the-affordable-care-act-individual-mandate/
18. Video: What is the Affordable Care Act Individual Mandate? – https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/health-care/video-what-is-the-affordable-care-act-individual-mandate/L3OAYP8Lb
19. The Effect of Eliminating the Individual Mandate Penalty and the Role of Behavioral Factors – https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2018/jul/eliminating-individual-mandate-penalty-behavioral-factors
20. Pre-Existing Conditions: Do They Impact Your Coverage? | eHealth – https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/resources/affordable-care-act/pre-existing-conditions-obamacare
21. Pre-Existing Condition Prevalence for Individuals and Families | KFF – https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/issue-brief/pre-existing-condition-prevalence-for-individuals-and-families/
22. What is a Pre-Existing Condition? – https://www.cigna.com/knowledge-center/what-is-a-pre-existing-condition
23. Understanding the Health Insurance Marketplaces | KFF – https://www.kff.org/understanding-health-insurance-marketplaces/
24. Obamacare in California Explained: A Complete Guide – https://www.ehealthinsurance.com/obamacare/california
25. Health insurance Marketplaces by state | healthinsurance.org – https://www.healthinsurance.org/states/
26. Premium Tax Credit – Beyond the Basics – https://www.healthreformbeyondthebasics.org/premium-tax-credits-answers-to-frequently-asked-questions/
27. How to Save Money on Monthly Health Insurance Premiums – https://www.healthcare.gov/lower-costs/save-on-monthly-premiums/
28. Cost-sharing reductions – https://www.healthcare.gov/lower-costs/save-on-out-of-pocket-costs/
29. Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions | Internal Revenue Service – https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/employers/employer-shared-responsibility-provisions
30. Employer Mandate under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – https://www.cigna.com/employers/insights/informed-on-reform/employer-mandate
31. Questions and Answers on Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions Under the Affordable Care Act – https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/employers/questions-and-answers-on-employer-shared-responsibility-provisions-under-the-affordable-care-act
32. The Affordable Care Act’s Impact on Small Business – https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2018/oct/affordable-care-act-impact-small-business
33. Employers | Internal Revenue Service – https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/employers
34. Small Business and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – https://www.healthcare.gov/small-businesses/learn-more/how-aca-affects-businesses/
35. How the ACA dented the health care cost curve – https://www.vumc.org/health-policy/affordable-care-act-effect-on-health-care-costs
36. The Affordable Care Act at 10 Years: What’s the Effect on Health Care Coverage and Access? – https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/journal-article/2020/feb/aca-at-10-years-effect-health-care-coverage-access
37. The Affordable Care Act at 10 Years: What’s Changed in Health Care Delivery and Payment? – https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/journal-article/2020/feb/aca-at-10-years-changed-health-care-delivery-payment
38. The ACA’s Promise of Free Preventive Health Care Faces Ongoing Legal Challenges – https://www.commonwealthfund.org/blog/2023/acas-promise-free-preventive-health-care-faces-ongoing-legal-challenges
39. 5 Charts About Public Opinion on the Affordable Care Act | KFF – https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/poll-finding/5-charts-about-public-opinion-on-the-affordable-care-act/
40. The Affordable Care Act: An Overview of the Evidence – https://www.rand.org/health-care/key-topics/health-policy/aca/in-depth.html
41. Here’s why it would be even harder now to kill Obamacare | CNN Politics – https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/07/politics/obamacare-affordable-care-act-repeal/index.html
42. Obamacare Exchanges: Stable for 2023, But with an Uncertain Future – https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/report/obamacare-exchanges-stable-2023-uncertain-future
43. PDF – https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/77ba3e9c99264d4f76dd662d3b2498c0/aspe-ib-uninsured-aca.pdf
44. PDF – https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/18cd655222dc3de64866b269143731ce/aca-briefing-book-aspe-03-2022.pdf
45. How the Affordable Care Act Has Improved Americans’ Ability to Buy Health Insurance on Their Own – https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2017/feb/how-affordable-care-act-has-improved-americans-ability-buy