The Affordable Care Act is improving healthcare accessibility and affordability for enrollees, according to a recent ACA survey from The Commonwealth Fund.
Here are five key findings from the survey:
1. Sixty-one percent of Americans surveyed who obtained coverage through the ACA have coverage they previously could not afford or access.
2. Almost all (93 percent) of respondents who recently enrolled in Medicaid said their ability to get healthcare has improved or stayed the same since enrolling in Medicaid.
3. Seventy-three percent of marketplace enrollees who have had insurance for less than two months said the ACA improved or maintained their ability to access healthcare.
4. Among those surveyed, 11 percent with marketplace plans and 4 percent enrolled in Medicaid said their access to healthcare had diminished since gaining insurance.
5. Forty-five percent of consumers enrolled in marketplace plans did not have coverage before enrolling. In addition, 62 percent of new Medicaid enrollees were previously uninsured.
"The survey findings show that ACA coverage is making it easier for millions of Americans to get the healthcare they need," The Commonwealth Fund's VP for Health Care Coverage and Access Sara Collins said. "Providing timely access to care is the fundamental purpose of insurance and in this regard the law is working well for most people who are using their plans."
The Commonwealth Fund surveyed 4,802 adults between the ages 19 and 64 from February to April.