[Occupymendocino] Affordable Care Act

[Richard Karch]

The future of the Affordable Care Act may be in danger now that Donald Trump is president-elect. Trump has repeatedly stated on the campaign trail that he will make it a priority to quickly repeal the health care law, also known as Obamacare, once he takes office. “On day one of the Trump Administration, we will ask Congress to immediately deliver a full repeal of Obamacare,” DonaldTrump.com states.

After the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010 with the aim of providing affordable health insurance for all Americans, many people who previously could not afford health coverage, or were denied it due to a pre-existing condition, suddenly had access to insurance. According to data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, over 16 million Americans received health insurance coverage in the first five years of the ACA, and a large number of those were young adults.

Also, under Obamacare, people with pre-existing health conditions can no longer be denied health insurance, and the consumer cost of some prescription drugs is greatly reduced or eliminated. There are also free preventative appointments, along with supplies like breast bumps at no cost.

That's not to say there weren't major drawbacks to Obamacare that created incredible financial hardships for many Americans. Some faced a fine if they elected not to have health insurance, and health insurance premiums haven't increased a little—they've increased a lot. According to Forbes, premiums have increased faster than worker wages, and if Obamacare stayed in effect, some health insurance premiums would rise by more than 25 percent in 2017, the New York Times reports. Although the Obama administration said three-fourths of people on the Affordable Care Act would be able to find plans for less than $100 a month, people in both political parties have deemed Obamacare in need of serious work. But now that it's likely going away, something must take its place.

Here, answers to your most pressing post-election health care questions:   more at:http://www.self.com/story/donald-trump-obamacare-repeal
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