Question

Since the Affordable Care Act was passed, many more people in the United States have than before.

Answer 1

The Affordable Care Act greatly reduced the number of uninsured Americans from 20.3% in 2012 to 8.6% by 2020, due to expanded Medicaid eligibility and prohibitions on denying coverage to those with preexisting conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, there has been a significant decrease in the percentage of Americans without health insurance. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that the rate of uninsured individuals dropped from 20.3% in 2012 to 11.5% in 2016, meaning approximately 20 million Americans gained coverage. This legislation was particularly influential for individuals with preexisting conditions who, prior to the ACA, were often denied coverage. Further reductions occurred, and by 2020, the Census reported that the share of the population without health insurance had further declined to 8.6%.

Key elements contributing to this decline include the expansion of Medicaid eligibility, the establishment of health insurance marketplaces, and provisions ensuring that individuals with preexisting conditions could not be denied coverage. Additionally, the ACA included an individual mandate requiring most Americans to carry health insurance or face a penalty, though this mandate has faced significant political opposition.

Answer 2

The first part of the comprehensive health care reform law enacted on March 23, 2010. The law was amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act on March 30, 2010. The law also expands the Medicaid program to cover more people with low incomes

Step-by-step explanation:

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly known as the ACA) was spectacularly successful in expanding health insurance to people previously uncovered, through the insurance exchanges and Medicaid expansion. ... First, the good news: We estimate that the ACA saved more than one-half trillion dollars.