14 Years of Affordable Care:
Celebrating The ACA’s Legacy & Coverage Requirements for Reproductive Health Care
Written by Anna Hindman, AMSA Reproductive Health Project Fellow and 4th year medical student at Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
14 years ago, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) became law. This milestone in history had a major impact on women’s health, reproductive rights, and access to healthcare which stands as a testament to its significance. Since its enactment, the ACA has played a pivotal role in advancing women’s health by ensuring comprehensive coverage and access to essential services. One of the most notable achievements has been the provision mandating coverage of preventive services, including mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, prenatal care, and birth control, without cost-sharing. This provision has empowered millions of women to prioritize preventive care, leading to improved health outcomes.
Moreover, the ACA has been instrumental in expanding access to reproductive healthcare for women across the United States. By requiring insurance plans to cover contraceptive methods and counseling without copayments, the ACA has made family planning services more accessible and affordable, promoting reproductive autonomy. Additionally, the ACA’s Medicaid expansion has provided coverage for essential reproductive health services to low-income women who were previously underserved, ensuring that economic status is not a barrier to accessing reproductive healthcare, leading to many improvements including reductions in postpartum hospitalizations.
Overall, this anniversary of the ACA serves as an opportunity to celebrate its many achievements, including those in advancing women’s health and reproductive rights. While challenges still persist, including ongoing efforts to undermine or repeal certain provisions of the ACA, its legacy in improving access to healthcare for women, particularly in the realms of preventive care and reproductive health, remains undeniable. Nationwide polls continue to show that public opinion on the ACA is more favorable than not and has helped millions of people gain access to care. As the nation commemorates this milestone, it is imperative to continue advocating for policies that uphold and strengthen these vital gains, including in women’s healthcare. Please see ACA Resources below to learn more about benefits available to you, your family and future patients.
As we celebrate and build on the ACA we also want to highlight an important new White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research, led by the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, that was announced last week:
- Executive Order on Advancing Women’s Health Research and Innovation – Link
- Watch President Biden’s Announcement – Link
- Fact Sheet – Link
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ACA Resources:
- Health Coverage for Women Under the Affordable Care Act, HHS – Link
- Health Coverage for People Under 30 – HealthCare.gov – Link
- Young Adults and the Affordable Care Act: Protecting Young Adults and Eliminating Burdens on Families and Businesses, CMS – Link
- 14 Features to Celebrate on the ACA’s 14th Anniversary, Health Care for America Now – Link
- 14 Years After the ACA’s Passage, Policymakers Should Build on Its Pillars of Affordable and Accessible Care, Center for American Progress – Link
*REMINDER*
Research Presenter Conference Scholarships Available – Apply Today!
Join Us! May 30-June1 in Washington DC at FP4Change2024
Apply by March 25 – Link
