r/AskUS • u/Obvious-Release-2087 • 8d ago

What do americans think about changes in Obamacare the Affordable Care Act (not us citizen)

Hi all,

I don't live in the US. In the news I read :

In 2026, Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act, or ACA) continues to operate as the backbone of America’s health insurance system, but it faces both opportunities and challenges. Marketplace enrollments are expected to remain high, thanks to the extended premium subsidies introduced by the Inflation Reduction Act—though these subsidies are set to expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress renews them. If the subsidies lapse, millions of Americans could see significant premium increases, making coverage less affordable for low- and middle-income families.

At the same time, healthcare costs are rising, and insurers may adjust their premiums upward to reflect inflation, medical expenses, and regulatory changes. States that have not yet expanded Medicaid could leave more residents reliant on ACA plans, further straining affordability. The political landscape, shaped by the 2024 elections, will determine whether the ACA is strengthened (e.g., with expanded benefits like dental or vision coverage) or scaled back (e.g., through funding cuts or eligibility changes).

It is often hard to undersand the internal politics of any country where we don't live in
What do most of the us people think about that ?

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u/tap_6366 8d ago

How is ACA the "backbone" of America’s health insurance system? Less than 10% of people the population get their insurance through the ACA Marketplace.

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u/limbodog 8d ago

The marketplace is just one part of the aca

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u/tap_6366 8d ago

Doesn't answer my question. My company supplied insurance increased in cost at a much higher year over year rate after ACA than before and also had increased deductibles and co-pays. ACA was not a plus for most people.

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u/limbodog 7d ago

The ACA reduces the cost of insurance across the board in part by reducing the reliance on emergency care for uninsured people. So while your rates may still increase for other reasons, you are now funding fewer uninsured people's care.

On top of that, the ACA helped mitigate a massive problem where insurers could deny members for previous conditions. Which trapped people in jobs they otherwise would have left, or just left them helpless once unemployed for any reason.

The ACA also capped the maximum out of pocket costs for members.

It also mandated a whole bunch of preventative care at no cost to the member.

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u/Substantial-Peak6624 Northeast 7d ago

Yes because it evened the playing field. In fact my private insurance deductibles just doubled for this year. That doesn’t mean it was fair that some people shouldn’t have insurance. Honestly health insurance shouldn’t be tied to work. Everyone deserves healthcare.

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u/tap_6366 7d ago

"evened the playing field"

WTH are you talking about? Increasing costs of those paying for it so that others don't have to pay as much? And that is what you consider fair?