The topic of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has been a very popular discussion in businesses and homes throughout America. There is a varying opinion about whether or not this act will have a positive or negative effect. President Obama's main focuses with the health care reform are to provide more Americans with access to affordable health insurance, improve the quality of health care and health insurance, regulate the health insurance industry, and reduce health care costs and to provide affordable health care to all Americans. Prior to this law being passed, a person could be denied health insurance or treatment due to a preexisting condition. Insurance companies were also allowed women a larger premium. There were approximately 44 million Americans who were unable to get health insurance. There are many different opinions about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as Obamacare.
Some of the positive aspects of Obamacare that affect the average American person are that insurance companies are no longer allowed to deny a person coverage for having a preexisting condition. It also eliminates annual and lifetime limits. Another positive aspect is that it allows children to stay on their parents insurance until they are twenty six years old. That allows young adults to attend college without worrying about getting themselves health insurance. It provides millions of Americans with access to preventative and wellness services with no out of pocket costs. Obamacare enacts the "80/20" rule that requires health insurance providers to spend at least 80% of their income on health and marketing expenses or it must be returned as rebates. Those that fall under 400% of the federal poverty level could save up to 60% on their premiums with tax credits and subsidies on the health insurance exchanges. Those under 113% of the poverty level in the states that chose to opt out of the Medicaid expansion will be able to be covered who previously did not qualify for Medicaid.