Why Every American Should Care About Obamacare (Part 1)
The enrollment deadline for the historic healthcare program is one week away…
If you lack health insurance it’s not too late to get it. But don’t wait much longer.
Here’s what you need to know…
In March 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA)— more commonly known as Obamacare — was passed by Congress and signed into law by America’s first Black president.
That singular monumental achievement by President Barack Obama has provided health coverage to tens of millions of Americans who otherwise would have no health security via the open marketplace for private insurance. Too many citizens were simply priced out.
At no time was the critical importance of Obamacare clearer than during the outbreak and highpoints of the novel coronavirus.
Who knows how many more American lives would have been lost to the global pandemic in those early years if more citizens lacked access to basic healthcare?
Americans have one week left to sign up for Obamacare to live healthier and help sustain a healthier population.
Historic Achievement
Obamacare signifies one of the most groundbreaking and comprehensive healthcare laws in American history, along with Medicare and Medicaid.
The ACA finally provided broad-based healthcare coverage to tens of millions of vulnerable Americans who had been locked out of the private system because of their socioeconomic status, preexisting conditions or other discriminatory factors.
Finally, more ordinary citizens were able to receive Obamacare to prevent and mitigate major medical ailments.
Regardless of your politics and ideology, you should consider the moral reasons why access to affordable healthcare must be a basic human right in the 21st century high-tech Information Age.
The core American values of fairness and equality are enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The coronavirus pandemic made it clear that access to affordable healthcare in the world’s most prominent democracy is central to the attainment of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” — which is impossible for those who are gravely ill, or dead, due to no healthcare coverage providing access to doctors and hospitals.
Safeguarding basic civil and human rights for all citizens is what helps make the United States unique in the world. And chief among these safeguards is not only the nation’s collective health and wellness, but also that of each individual.
That’s why access to quality healthcare should never be restricted to only the rich and privileged, which is commonplace in autocratic and communist countries.
Prior to Obamacare, tens of millions of Americans were deprived of any healthcare, including those with severe, chronic or life-threatening illnesses.
Final Thoughts
The scarcity of health security had been an American tragedy for too long prior to Barack Obama’s first term as president.
But, thanks to Obamacare, according to The New York Times (article above):
- “Americans earning less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level — around $42,000 for a family of four — are eligible for free health plans that come with low deductibles and co-payments.”
For those unfortunate citizens without healthcare, Obamacare represents the fundamental freedom necessary to live an independent and fruitful life, including:
- Freedom to see a doctor.
- Freedom to receive life-saving medical treatment.
- Freedom from the stranglehold of greed and corruption by powerful corporate interests.
Opponents of Obamacare who claim it’s a personal infringement should first think about all the American citizens who were forced to live in despair for decades with no healthcare availability.
If you happen to lack affordable health coverage, it’s not too late to enroll now. But don’t wait much longer.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is Part 1 of 2 in a series about Obamacare. Stay tuned for more soon…
