Celebrating the 12th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
Today marks the 12th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act into law. In the past 12 years, we have seen the law bumped and bruised, but ultimately triumph in its goal to improve American health care.
Now in its 3rd year, the COVID-19 pandemic may have been the toughest test the law ever faced. With tens of millions of Americans out of work at the beginning of the pandemic, the ACA provided a safe haven. Losing a job no longer meant losing access to health care during a crucial time. The ACA ensured everyone access to affordable quality health insurance, preventative care, reproductive and maternity care, Medicaid and Medicare services, low-cost prescription drugs, and mental health and substance use support among other essential health benefits.
FAH applauds and thanks Congress for recognizing the importance of this landmark legislation and increasing its effectiveness by passing the enhanced ACA subsidies in the American Rescue Plan. We encourage lawmakers to go further and make these subsidies permanent. American patients deserve the security of knowing their access to health care is assured.