Read each discussion and make one reply to each discussion. These replies do not

Read each discussion and make one reply to each discussion. These replies do not need to be formal – but professional in nature. Include citations and references. 2 references for each reply. Ask 1 questions at the end of each reply. Each reply needs to be 137 Words
Discussion 1
On March 23, 2010, former president Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act also known as “ObamaCare” into law. This law had 3 primary goals: Make affordable health insurance available to more people, expand the Medicaid program to cover low-income adults, and support innovative medical care delivery methods designed to lower the costs of health care overall (HealthCare.gov, 2022).
Prior to 2014, some private health insurance market reforms extended coverage to children up to age 26 and not allowing children up to age 19 to be denied insurance (Meacham, 2020). The major expansion and reforms that took place in 2014 were that State Medicaid programs that choose to participate in Medicaid expansion will be required to expand coverage to all eligible non-pregnant and non-elderly legal residents (Meacham, 2020). States are expected to establish health insurance exchanges that provide access to private health insurance plans with standardized benefit and cost-sharing packers for eligible individuals and small employers (Meacham, 2020). The PPACA also implemented that certain employers with more than 50 employees who do not offer health insurance may be subject to penalties (Meacham, 2020). Additionally, PPACA implemented an “individual mandate”; The Act stipulated that beginning in 2014, and going forward, most individuals will be required to have insurance or pay a penalty (Meacham, 2020).
In my opinion, I do see that the PPACA has been effective and successful over this decade. It allows for those individuals who were and are not financially stable to be able to qualify for health benefits and utilize services that may not have been readily available to them beforehand. The law increases funding for community health centers and the National Health Service Corps to expand access to primary care services in rural and medically underserved areas and reduce health disparities (Meacham, 2020). The PPACA has a substantial benefit to individuals with different health status. Due to this Act having a powerful impact on health care insurance plans, I was able to stay on my parents insurance until the age of 26. This was very significant to me, due to an unexpected health decline in 2019, at the age of 23. In the beginning of 2023, after open enrollment, there was a record-breaking of more than 16.3 people who selected ACA for their health plans under President Biden (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2023).
The Biden-Harris Administration has made expanding access to health insurance and lowering health care costs for America’s families a top priority (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2023). President Biden promised to build on the success of the ACA and make it easier for people to enroll and find affordable, quality coverage (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2023). The Biden-Harris Administration aims to now achieve with the PPACA to push “Bidenomics”. This agenda is intended to remove “short term” plans to help lower medical expenses and crack down on junk insurance that provide loopholes and offer misleading insurance products to consumers (The White House, 2023). Overall, with health care constantly changing and the previous success of the ACA, expanding and reforming the law seems to be very achievable.

References
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2023, January 25). Biden-Harris Administration Announces Record-Breaking 16.3 Million People Signed Up for Health Care Coverage in ACA Marketplaces During 2022-2023 Open Enrollment Season. Cms.gov. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-announces-record-breaking-163-million-people-signed-up-health-care#:~:text=Today%2C%20the%20Biden%2DHarris%20Administration,15%2C%202023%20for%20most%20Marketplaces.

HealthCare.gov. (2022). Affordable Care Act (ACA) . https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/affordable-care-act/

Meacham, M. R. (2020). Longest’s Health Policymaking in the United States (7th ed.). Health Administration Press.
The White House (2023, July 07). FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Lower Health Care Costs and Protect Consumers from Scam Insurance Plans and Junk Fees as Part of “Bidenomics” Push. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/07/07/fact-sheetpresident-biden-announces-new-actions-to-lower-health-care-costs-and-protect-consumers-from-scam-insurance-plans-and-junk-fees-as-part-of-bidenomics-push/
Discussion 2
The PPACA was a policy enacted in 2010 during the Obama administration. The primary goal of this policy is to make it easier for individuals to access insurance coverage and make it more affordable to get healthcare. This policy enacted requirements for all individuals to have somewhat of health insurance coverage, otherwise they would have to pay a penalty annually depending on their yearly income.
There are some exemptions that are put in place to avoid these penalties. Some of them include religious beliefs, living internationally, and even if you are incarcerated. Although, even though there can be penalties to this law, it also comes up as an advantage. This specific law requires insurance companies to offer at least a basic health benefits package. These packages can include certain coverage such as prescription drugs, ambulatory care, and even hospitalization.
I believe that this policy is successful in the sense that it encourages individuals to enroll in insurance plans. This coverage can also spread to their loved ones as well making minds rest easy in the case of an emergency. The Biden administration can help repair the policy by refurbishing the law and looking it over. Change is important for organizations to succeed and in order for this policy to keep being beneficial for those individuals there must be a change put in place.I believe renewing the benefits packaging can assist those in need of further coverage as well as taking into account subjects such as homelessness and veterans.
References:
Meacham, M. R. (2020). Longest’s Health Policymaking in the United States (7th ed.). Health Administration Press.
Patient protection and affordable care act . Glossary | HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/patient-protection-and-affordable-care-act/#:~:text=(It%27s%20sometimes%20known%20as%20“PPACA,to%20make%20it%20more%20affordable.