Barack Obama:Fourteen years of the Affordable Care Act

 

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Hi there, Fourteen years ago today, I signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law. In the years since, the ACA has changed the way we think about health insurance coverage. The percentage of uninsured Americans has been cut in half and more than 21 million Americans now have access to quality, affordable health care. Young people are staying on their parents’ plans until they’re 26. Americans with pre-existing conditions are no longer being denied coverage. Seniors and people with disabilities are paying less for prescription drugs. And Americans everywhere are switching jobs and starting their own businesses without worrying about losing their insurance. The Affordable Care Act has changed people’s lives in so many ways. But “Obamacare” wasn’t something that I did—it was something that we did. Passing the law required a grassroots movement that only succeeded because so many Americans told their stories and worked hard to bring about change.  It was also made possible by the hundreds of members of my administration who put their lives on hold to help pass and implement the ACA. The Obama Foundation is sharing some of their stories. I hope you’ll take a minute to read about their experiences and how they’re continuing to make a difference in their communities today.  We still need to build on the foundation of the Affordable Care Act and make sure every American has access to quality, affordable health care. But the story of the ACA is a testament to what can be accomplished when people come together, find common ground, and put their shoulder to the wheel to make a difference.  It’s a story that inspires our work through the Foundation, and it should inspire future generations to continue to work towards progress.  – Barack

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