Why we need to replace not just repeal the ACA

The Affordable Care Act provides insurance to tens of millions of Americans. As with most laws, there are some drawbacks to the legislation. This has led some politicians to want to repeal the law, and the new presidential administration is pushing for a repeal of the act. While there are pros and cons to repealing the legislation, repealing it has the potential to be disastrous.

Pros Of Repealing It:

– No Individual Mandate:

Repealing the Affordable Care Act would provide people with the option to not purchase health insurance. Currently, individuals who choose to forgo insurance have to pay a fine. If the Affordable Care Act were repealed, this fine would no longer be implemented.

– There Is The Potential That Repeal Could Make It More Effective Legislation:

While the Affordable Care Act provides insurance to many people, there still are many Americans without insurance in the United States. When Trump speaks of repealing the Affordable Care Act, he frequently talks about repealing it and replacing it with something better. In theory, it is possible that the Affordable Care Act could be repealed and replaced with something that covers more Americans. Unfortunately, it’s unknown what the Affordable Care Act would be replaced with if it were repealed.

Cons Of Repealing The Affordable Care Act:

– Repealing Could Result In Millions Losing Their Health Insurance:

If the ACA gets repealed without a replacement, many people would immediately lose their insurance. It’s estimated that 18 million Americans would be without insurance within a year after the Affordable Care Act was repealed. If the Affordable Care Act simply was denied funding in the manner that Republicans often propose, it would result in similar consequences. If the Affordable Care Act were repealed and replaced with skimpy coverage, this also could result in millions losing their health insurance or being under-insured.

– Increased Emergency Room Wait Times:

Often times, those who lack health insurance are forced to go to the emergency room for treatment. Emergency rooms aren’t legally allowed to refuse care for inability to pay in the same manner that doctor’s offices can. Emergency rooms cannot release a patient experiencing a medical emergency unless their condition is stabilized. Since the emergency room is one of the only ways that an individual can receive treatment without insurance, many individuals with no health insurance are forced to use emergency rooms for conditions that could be treated in a doctor’s office. This causes emergency rooms to be crowded, and it can result in dangerously long wait times in emergency rooms.

– Increased Debt In The Healthcare System:

When those without insurance seek care at emergency rooms, it often creates a situation where healthcare costs aren’t being paid for. This causes debt within the healthcare system, which can increase the cost of healthcare. Without the Affordable Care Act, there could be more uninsured individuals who are unable to pay hospital bills, and this could cause healthcare costs to spiral further and further out of control.

– Loss Of Coverage For Those With Pre-Existing Conditions:

If the Affordable Care Act were to be repealed in entirety, those with pre-existing conditions could find themselves without insurance. Furthermore, people with pre-existing conditions wouldn’t might not even be able to purchase insurance again, ever. Prior to the Affordable Care Act, it was standard procedure for insurance companies to not cover anyone with a pre-existing condition. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance companies aren’t allowed to deny anyone coverage as a result of a pre-existing condition. They also are not allowed to charge patients a higher rate for insurance if they suffer from a pre-existing condition.

– Seniors Would Pay More For Medications:

While senior citizens would still be able to get insurance through Medicare, seniors’ healthcare costs would still rise. The Affordable Care Act covers what is often referred to as Medicare’s “doughnut hole” in prescription drug costs. Without it, drug costs could rise substantially. This could create a very difficult situation for senior citizens who are already living on a tight budget.

– The Markets Wouldn’t Just Go Back To The Way They Were Before The Affordable Care Act:

While healthcare in the United States wasn’t in a good place before the Affordable Care Act, things would be much worse now if it were repealed. This is because younger people who previously got care through the Affordable Care Act would likely forgo purchasing insurance on the private market, in many cases. Those with health problems would be likely to purchase healthcare on the private market, assuming the mandate pertaining to pre-existing conditions was not repealed. This would put a massive drain on health insurance companies, and it could raise the cost of health insurance dramatically. This could make it extremely difficult for people to acquire insurance on the private market. It also could reduce the quality of coverage offered by insurance companies.