The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) is a pivotal piece of legislation aimed to improve the current healthcare system in the United States. The legislation aims to ensure that all American citizens have access to good quality and affordable healthcare. One of the focal points of this act is that individuals will need to maintain minimum essential coverage or pay a penalty (Democratic Policy and Communications Center [DPCC], n.d.). Employers with more than 200 employees must also automatically enroll new, full-time employees in coverage.

• Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the legislation as it relates to mandatory insurance coverage.

• Based on the information you reviewed on the act, respond to the following:

• In your opinion, will mandatory health insurance create hardships for those families who cannot afford the premium and are not eligible for Medicaid or other financial assistance?

• Could employers only employ contracted workers or part-time staff to avoid paying for mandatory health insurance for them? How feasible is it for employers to automatically enroll full-time employees?

• What other specific objectives contained within the act do you think may come under scrutiny?

Support your statements with scholarly references and appropriate examples.