Good Example Of Letter To Congressman Eliot L. Engle, Re: Ppaca Essay

Thank you for voting for passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). This law will provide insurance coverage to many Americans who would otherwise not be able to afford health insurance or would be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions. Benefits to the economy seem substantial, as well.
According to the New York Times, the Obama administration maintains that the cost of health coverage was lowered “by 76 percent on average” for those who qualified for a subsidy. The number of private insurance companies entering the market since 2013 has increased by 22 percent, and “dire warnings” of rates skyrocketing have not materialized due to increased competition. Of the 21 states that had an aggregate of 41 markets with “one or two carriers fell to 10”. With the increase of competitors, policy prices can remain generally lower, especially as more Americans sign-up. Because not all carriers maintain competitive pricing, it is essential for consumers to shop-around for the best prices and coverage. Perhaps even more private insurers will enter near-monopolistic markets (e.g., Vermont) to help prevent inordinate price raises. There, Blue Cross is considering a 9% rise in premium. And in our state, there is a projected increase of 10% in 4 markets (New York Times). Perhaps you will be able to affect easier entry of more competition in these markets. The HHS.gov website on PPACA touts consumer protections with, for the vast majority of circumstances (excepting some grandfathered plans from 2010), a ban on denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions. This includes a total ban for children under 18. PPACA also provides an appeals process if an insurance carrier denies payment for a procedure. Title 1 of the act also limits out-of-pocket expenses per individual or family. This is critical for people with pre-existing conditions as well as for all enrolling in the plans. It also provides incentive to assure more competitive markets for federal lawmakers as they must also seek coverage from the same carriers (HHS.gov.) I thank you, again, for voting for PPACA. Overall, since more Americans are taking advantage of the law, more paying patients in hospitals and using pharmaceuticals has increased in the first full year of operation, and “’has resulted in pretty substantial earnings across the board’”. The “S&P 500 health Care Index rose by 24 percent” over 2013, and has “outperformed the overall stock market” (New York Times). So, it looks like the law is working generally well, and it seems to be benefitting the overall economy.

Works Cited

New York Times. Is the Affordable Care Act Working? New York Times. October 26, 2014. www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/10/27/us/is-the-affordable-care-act-working.html?_r=0#/
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Health Insurance Marketplace. Web. February 22, 2015. www.hhs.gov/healthcare/index.html