{"id":355836,"date":"2020-11-24T17:02:39","date_gmt":"2020-11-24T22:02:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/healthcare\/patient-rights\/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-affordable-care-act-obamacare.html"},"modified":"2024-03-25T11:01:09","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T16:01:09","slug":"the-pros-and-cons-of-the-affordable-care-act-obamacare","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/healthcare\/patient-rights\/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-affordable-care-act-obamacare.html","title":{"rendered":"The Pros and Cons of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Pros and Cons of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)<\/h1>\n
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\n By Joseph Fawbush, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Aviana Cooper, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Your view of the pros and cons of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, commonly referred to as Obamacare) may depend on your political preferences. It may also depend on what role you believe the federal government should play in providing healthcare access for Americans.<\/p>\r\n

More than a decade later, Americans largely approve, or disapprove, of the Affordable Care Act based on party lines. According to a 2023 Kaiser Family Foundation<\/a> poll, 90% of self-identified Democrats approve of the Affordable Care Act, while 70% of self-identified Republicans disapprove of it.<\/p>\r\n

Discussing the pros and cons of Obamacare will not avoid disagreement. Your priorities will likely play a significant role in how you weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the Affordable Care Act. Yet, when asked about specific provisions, most Americans prefer certain aspects of the ACA. Below is a nonpartisan summary of those pros and cons.<\/p>\r\n

The ACA is a significant and unprecedented act of Congress. It would take entire books to thoroughly review all the impacts of the 900-page healthcare reform law. But the law has indisputably transformed America’s healthcare system. Fortunately, the law’s most significant and controversial aspects can be summed up briefly.<\/p>\r\n

The Structure of the Affordable Care Act<\/h2>\r\n

Initially, there was confusion over whether the Affordable Care Act and "Obamacare" are the same. They are. Obamacare is a term coined by opponents of the law.<\/p>\r\n

The Affordable Care Act first centered around a so-called "three-legged stool." This allowed insurers to make money while providing more comprehensive insurance coverage. The Affordable Care Act has three original pillars:<\/p>\r\n