The Affordable Care Act (ACA) or “Obamacare” revolutionized the healthcare industry and has impacted healthcare in LA in several ways. It was implemented in 2010, and since then, it has provided access to affordable health insurance coverage to millions of Americans, especially the uninsured and underinsured.
Before the ACA, many Americans lacked funding to get health insurance coverage, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions. The ACA made it mandatory for every American citizen to get health insurance or pay a penalty. It also expanded Medicaid in California and other states, enabling low-income families to access affordable healthcare insurance coverage.
The ACA has resulted in fewer uninsured Californians, with the percentage of uninsured residents dropping from 17.2% in 2013 to 7.2% in 2016. This decrease in the number of uninsured has resulted in an increase in demand for healthcare services. To cater to the high demand, healthcare providers have expanded their services, increasing the number of healthcare professionals and opening new facilities. It has ensured better access to preventive care and early cancer screening for more patients, ensuring that diseases are caught early on and treated effectively.
The ACA has also mandated that all health insurance policy plans should cover essential health benefits such as prescription drugs, maternity care, lab tests, mental health services, and many more. Before the ACA, many individuals would avoid getting healthcare service, for fear of high out of pocket costs, and lack of comprehensible health plans. With the ACA in place, individuals now have the right to demand fair and manageable costs for their healthcare needs.
Furthermore, the ACA has prompted healthcare providers to digitize their medical records, a move that has led to improved healthcare coordination and better patient care outcomes. digitization of medical records has ensured that health facilities can quickly access medical history, test results and facilitate continuous healthcare plans for patients. digitization has resulted in higher-quality healthcare delivery and saved time and resources.
In conclusion, the Affordable Care Act has had a significant impact on healthcare in LA. It has brought a much-needed overhaul in the industry and revolutionized the way people get health insurance coverage. Through the ACA, more low-income families have access to affordable health insurance cover and have better healthcare services, including preventive care and early disease detection. It has also resulted in healthcare providers digitizing their medical records for better patient care coordination, leading to quality and efficient healthcare delivery.
