The health law’s first goal was to expand affordable health coverage, which it has in part succeeded in achieving. Now 20 million more Americans have health insurance coverage from Medicaid expansion or marketplace plans. It has helped people with diabetes, asthma and chronic kidney disease receive treatment. It has helped smokers quit. It has also helped people realize they have chronic conditions or given them access to birth control.
The research is still imperfect, but a growing body of evidence suggests coverage gains under the ACA have helped people become healthier, according to the report. For example, one study cited by the Post shows more people — previously uninsured people who bought coverage on the marketplace with federal subsidies — found out they had high blood pressure and were given prescriptions to manage it, compared to those with continuous insurance. Another shows young adults ages 19-25 with asthma were more likely to seek needed medical care because they still had coverage under a parent’s plan.
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