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Reproductive Justice & 15 Years of The Affordable Care Act

March 28, 2025

SPOTLIGHT ON HEALTH & REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE

Reproductive Justice & 15 Years of The Affordable Care Act

Written by Becky Martin, AMSA Senior Manager of Reproductive Health Advocacy

Sunday, March 23rd, marked 15 years since President Obama signed into law The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare as many call it. Since its hard-won passage a record 21.3 million people have signed up for coverage through ACA marketplaces – that means 1 in 6 nonelderly people now get their health care coverage via the ACA. An additional 21.4 million people have gained coverage through ACA supported Medicaid Expansion in 41 states and DC.

That’s 44 million more people who now have affordable health care coverage here in the United States — thanks to those who knew our nation could do better and
raised their voices for change, and didn’t take no as the answer.

We still have a way to go to achieve AMSA’s long-time goal of high-quality, affordable, accessible, sustainable, and equitable healthcare for all in our nation, and join the rest of the countries in the industrialized world in providing universal health care ensuring the human right to health care (Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 25).

At AMSA we believe reproductive rights are human rights. With our Reproductive Health Project we explore the connections between reproductive justice and health justice, and work to help students lift their voices for reproductive freedom and health care for all. We invite you to explore and share the resources below, to celebrate the gains we’ve made, and know that even in the face of the turmoil rising in our country today AMSA’s vision of HEALTH CARE FOR ALL is absolutely achievable & YOU can find YOUR people in AMSA!

ACA Helps Millions & Provides Basis for Further Progress – CBPP

See How Many People in Your State Get Health Care Coverage via the ACA – KFF

HealthCare.gov

Deeper Dives:

ACA 101 – KFF
Pending Threat to ACA Coverage – Action Needed to Maintain Momentum, CBPP
Steep Premium Increases if Enhanced Subsidies Expire – Congressional District Interactive Map – KFF
Why Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Should be Made Permanent – Families USA

Medicaid & ACA Medicaid Expansion in YOUR State & Congressional District

See How Many People in Your Congressional District are Covered by Medicaid & ACA Medicaid Expansion – KFF
How Many Uninsured in YOUR State Live in Coverage Gap
& Could be Covered if All States Adopted ACA Medicaid Expansion – KFF
Status of State Action on the Medicaid Expansion Decision – KFF

ACA Birth Control Benefits – HealthCare.gov

ACA Contraceptive Coverage Requirement: Importance & Impact – NWLC

Federal Contraception Coverage Guarantee: A Critical Policy That Must Be Protected – Guttmacher Institute

Deeper Dives:

Pregnancy-Related ACA Services – KFF
Helping People Access Birth Control – CoverHer, NWLC
Patient Education Materials: Birth Control Charts & Resources – Upstream

No More Pre-existing Condition Denials

10 Ways the ACA Protects People with Pre-Existing Conditions – KFF

Coverage for Pregnancy

Deeper Dives:

At Risk: Pre-Existing Conditions Could Affect 1 in 2 Americans – CMS
The Implications of the Public’s Preexisting Condition—Amnesia – JAMA
Trump Presidency Puts Americans with Pre-Existing Conditions at Risk. Again. – Century Foundation

Preventive Care Coverage for:
Adults
Children
Women

Deeper Dives:

ACA Essential Benefits
ACA Preventive Services Tracker – KFF

No gender-based premiums:
Insurers cannot charge higher premiums based on gender – KFF

Insurers Cannot Limit Coverage Amounts
& Must Set Out-of-Pocket Maximums – KFF

© 2022, American Medical Student Association, McLean, VA