Discuss the changing landscape of the US health care system through the ACA and specific initiatives that have been funded, enacted and currently implemented to improve health care for all Americans

Sample Answer

Introduction

The 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) has transformed and improved the healthcare system in America (Graves and Nikpay, 2017). The law has implemented reforms to enhance the affordability, accessibility, and quality of health care in America. The essay evaluates the improvements made in the US health care system since the adoption of ACA.

ACA progress towards the improvement of the US health care system
The law protects persons with pre-existing medical conditions by prohibiting health insurance companies from making premiums based on the health history of the clients. The law is also against the coverage of lifetime and annual limits, a practice that was previously common in most private companies (Graves and Nikpay, 2017). The provision has been tremendously beneficial to persons with employer-provided coverage, with no protection against catastrophic costs.

ACA policy also requires private insurers to charge fairly for their premium, whether for employer-sponsored or individual market policies. The insurers are now required by the law to cover recommended preventive services without cost-sharing, which is crucial despite the fact that most of these services are not utilized.

Some of these services include counselling for domestic violence and contraceptive coverage. Medicaid expansion, one of the largest coverage expansion, has facilitated improved healthcare among low and middle-income earners (Semprini, Shane, & Wehby, 2020).

The Medicaid expansion program has increased the use of healthcare services and diagnoses and treatments of diseases such as mental disorders and annual cancer check-ups and screening. Also, ACA creates the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which assists the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to detect and quickly respond to health threats.

Conclusion

The cost of healthcare affects the economy of the US and the financial well-being of families in America. ACA has made considerable progress in addressing these long-standing problems facing health care in the US. Americans can now access a high-quality healthcare system easily throughout their lives. The law has sharply increased the insurance coverage in America.

References

• Graves, J. A., & Nikpay, S. S. (2017). The changing dynamics of US health insurance and implications for the future of the Affordable Care Act. Health Affairs, 36(2), 297-305. Doi 10.1377/hlthaff.2016.1165
  
• Semprini, J., Lyu, W., Shane, D. M., & Wehby, G. L. (2020). The Effects of ACA Medicaid Expansions on Health After 5 Years. Medical Care Research and Review, 1077558720972592. Doi 10.1177/1077558720972592