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Elijah Geniesse

Professor Connie Douglas

UWRT 1102

February 5, 2017

In 2010 newly-elected President Barack Obama passed his version of the

reconstructed welfare system. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as

Obamacare, was highly debated topic that gave underprivileged citizens more

government aid at the cost of increased taxes on upper and middle classes. Throughout

all of Obamas administration, this Act faced much difficulty in finding the support of the

majority population. Conservative Republicans argued that the act imposed federal

control over medical decisions, and some religiously affiliated employers object to the

laws mandate that preventive-health coverage include contraceptives. Eventually the

act became progressively more accepted around the nation though it still faced heavy

debate. It is without a doubt that the Affordable Care Act did much to benefit the lower,

impoverished part of our country but did the introduction of Obamacare actually benefit

our country as a whole?

The Affordable Care Act was imposed to aid in the coverage of healthcare for

many Americans in the United States. While this program helped work towards its

intended goal, Obamacare also provided a difficult situation for the economic market
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place. First off, the act requires much funding which will primarily come from higher tax

rates for the people who have worked hard for their money. Secondly, there is a large

market for businesses who work for insurance companies and as middle men between

client and doctor relations. Although this market can become pricey sometimes, it is part

of the economic stability for American economy. The introduction of Obamacare meant

a decrease in need for that market which closed jobs and created opportunities for

unemployment. According to Kerri Close, from Time.com, Obamacare will cost the

nation a total of $110 billion.

Another highly disputed argument is that the Affordable Care Act encourages

citizens to rely on the government rather than working for themselves. On a few

occasions an impoverished individual could receive more money in welfare than they

would receive from working a lower level job. This could create a sense of laziness in

certain individuals and a desire to do the bare minimum rather than working hard to

improve their financial stability. While it is evident that not all the population of welfare

recipients view the act in this way, there are still some who take advantage of the

system. Therefore, these citizens are learning to be lazy and careless about their

spending habits.

The Affordable Care act was originally implemented to broaden the range of

people covered by welfare and increase that amount of help that they are able to

receive. While there are many ways in which people take advantage of the act, it has
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positive outcomes. When utilized, the Affordable Care Act can be very beneficial to

helping people to get back on their feet and financially stable again. This has caused for

an increase in requirements in order to be eligible to receive welfare. As politics

continue to grow and learn the system is becoming more reformed so that welfare can

still be aid those who need it, without being abused by others.

Though Obamacare is still a strongly debated topic it had its ups and downs. The

administration allowed major expansion in the aspect of aid for those who need it.

Though it also increased government spending, increased tax rates, and allows for

citizens to become dependent on the government. While this system was beneficial to

some it hurt the nation as a whole. Looking forward from this the government needs to

restrict policy and lower cost while still providing to those who need it. The insurance

and client to doctor market is a large economic platform that should not be

overshadowed by a forceful welfare program.

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Sites:

Close, Kerry. "Here's How Many Billions Obamacare Will Cost in 2016." Time.

Time, 24 Mar. 2016. Web. 07 Feb. 2017.

Tuttle, Brad. "Here's What's Happened to Health Care Costs in America in the

Obama Years." Time. Time, 04 Oct. 2016. Web. 05 Feb. 2017.