The Future of the Affordable Care Act: Protecting Economic Health More than Physical Health?
Houston Law Review, Vol. 51, No. 4, 2014
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law Research Paper No. 2014-12
24 Pages Posted: 28 Mar 2014 Last revised: 17 Apr 2014
Date Written: March 26, 2014
Abstract
While observers have focused on questions about the extent to which the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will improve access to care, reduce the costs of care, and improve the quality of care, commentary has largely ignored an even more important question — to what extent will ACA improve health?
Surprisingly, the link between health care insurance and health is more tenuous than one might think. In the end, the ACA may do more to protect the financial health of poor Americans than to improve their physical health.
Keywords: Affordable Care Act, health care reform, health insurance
JEL Classification: H51, I18, K32
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation