Passage of the ACA dramatically reduced the number of uninsured persons in the United States from 49 million in 2010 to 29 million in 2017 (Cohen, Zammitti, and Martine,). Moreover, on average, individuals who gained insurance coverage report greater financial security and better health than similar individuals who lack insurance. In addition, states that expanded Medicaid coverage reported more economic growth and less unemployment than other states.
THE CONTINUING CRISIS IN HEALTH CARE COSTS
Unfortunately, even with adoption of the ACA, the cost of health care in the United States is perilously high—and rising. Moreover, compared to other more developed nations, the United States spends considerably more on health care . Yet despite these expenditures, researchers consistently rank the U.S. health care system below that of most other comparable nations.