Introduction
Access to healthcare has always been a critical component of the American dream. The enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act – popularly known as Obamacare – in 2010 signified a major step towards the attainment of this dream. This legislation was meant to facilitate access to affordable health insurance coverage for every American. Notwithstanding the noble intentions of its promulgators, the Act has been the subject of extensive controversy and incessant calls for repeal. Although both its proponents and opponents advance persuasive grounds in support of their respective positions, a repeal of the Act would be disastrous as it would undermine the significant gains in terms of increased access.
Benefits of Obamacare
Obamacare signified a major boost in the efforts to enable universal healthcare in the US. According to Amadeo and Boyle (2021), the Act presents numerous benefits that, cumulatively, have contributed to increased healthcare access and insurance coverage for millions of Americans. These benefits include slowing the increase in healthcare costs, increasing the scope of healthcare insurance coverage, including individuals with pre-existing conditions, incorporating children under their parent’s coverage, and removing lifetime and yearly insurance coverage restrictions. Other advantages are making it easier for people to shop for desirable insurance plans through insurance exchanges, providing tax credits on insurance premium purchases for the middle class, and eliminating disparities in insurance coverage. A reduction of the budget deficit and mandatory insurance coverage for employees working for business with 50 or more people is also attributable to the Act. Therefore, repealing Obamacare would undermine all these benefits and the considerable progress to increase access to healthcare would have been wasted, and such an outcome would be disastrous.
Detriments of Obamacare
Emphasis on the numerous benefits of Obamacare is not a claim of its perfection. In fact, the Act also embodies various shortcomings that fuel calls for its repeal. For example, there is contention that its enactment led to the loss of employment-based health insurance for no less than 3 million people (Amadeo & Boyle, 2021). Additionally, there was a marked surge in health care costs in the short term, including in drug process and out-of-pocket costs and increased taxation for some people and businesses, including those without insurance (Amadeo & Boyle, 2021). Amadeo and Boyle (2021) also contend that the Act would result in an estimated reduction in the population with health insurance over time. Further, the premise that the Act is ineffective as its perceived benefits tend to be offset cannot be overlooked. For instance, while there was increased health insurance coverage upon its enactment for many low-income individuals, many workers lost their employment-based insurance as businesses sought more cost-effective alternatives. Hence, gains made in one area are seemingly futile because of the adverse effects experienced in other sectors.
Conclusion
Both sides of the divide make persuasive arguments for or against the repeal of Obamacare. Some emphasize the Act’s benefits, such as enhanced access to healthcare and the measured rise in costs as major reason why it ought not to be repealed. In any case, such a move would unravel all the gains made to enhance access to healthcare to Americans. Others, however, focus on the increased taxes and insurance premiums and the alleged offset of perceived gains as reasons why it should be repealed. Overall, repealing the Act without a viable alternative would be disastrous as it would impede progress towards the universal healthcare dream.
Reference
Amadeo, K., & Boyle, M. (2021). Obamacare pros and cons. The Balance. Web.