Celebrating a Decade of Progress: The ACA's Enduring Legacy and Future Opportunities

Founded in 2010 by Rosemarie Day following the groundbreaking enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Day Health Strategies has been at the forefront of helping organizations to navigate the complex evolution of healthcare policy, with a steadfast commitment to improving public health, access, and affordability. This March brings a significant milestone as the ACA enters its fifteenth year, marking a transformative era in American healthcare that broadened coverage for millions and laid the groundwork for ongoing reforms to boost health equity and affordability.

A Decade of Impact

Since its enactment, the ACA has transformed the expansion of the healthcare landscape. The establishment of health insurance marketplaces and the expansion of the Medicaid program spurred a historic reduction in the uninsured rate. From 48.3 million individuals lacking health coverage in 2010, the figure plummeted to 25.3 million by 2023, highlighting the ACA's crucial role in broadening health coverage across the nation (The Office of Health Policy, 2023). This accomplishment is even more significant in light of the record-breaking 21 million individuals who enrolled in Marketplace coverage for the 2024 plan year, marking an all-time high since the launch of the ACA Marketplaces. These enrollment records, bolstered by policies from the Biden Administration such as the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), underscore the ACA's enduring legacy and potential for future growth.

The ACA has significantly impacted historically underserved communities, achieving marked declines in uninsured rates among people of color. This achievement is a critical stride toward rectifying enduring disparities in healthcare access and outcomes (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2024).

Sustaining and Building on Progress

The path ahead requires sustaining and augmenting these advances. The continuation of enhanced premium tax credits, as enacted by the ARP and IRA, remains vital for keeping ACA marketplaces affordable. Additionally, addressing the Medicaid coverage gap in states yet to expand Medicaid is imperative for broadening access to affordable healthcare universally.

The surge in Marketplace enrollment, partly driven by transitions from Medicaid as pandemic-era continuous coverage provisions ended, highlights the ACA's adaptability and resilience in ensuring coverage continuity for Americans.

Day Health's Role

Day Health Strategies recognizes the myriad challenges and opportunities the evolving healthcare landscape presents to organizations. The ongoing need for sustaining and building upon the ACA underscore the necessity for strategic planning, innovation, and transformation within the healthcare sector.

Our team commits to supporting healthcare organizations in adapting to these shifts, refining operations, and boosting patient care. Harnessing our expertise in healthcare strategy, project management, and health reform implementation, we enable our clients to tackle the ACA's implications and seize emerging opportunities for enhancement and growth.

Looking Forward

Day Health Strategies will continue to guide healthcare organizations through the constantly evolving healthcare environment. Together, we aim to advance towards a more equitable, accessible, and high-quality healthcare system for everyone. With the ACA's recent achievements and the administration's ongoing support, we stand on the brink of further reducing the uninsured rate and improving healthcare access and outcomes nationwide.

We look forward to helping you navigate the future of healthcare.