Implementing & Improving the Affordable Care Act

Implementing and Improving on the Affordable Care Act

Making the Full Promise of Health Reform Real

Since its inception, Health Access has focused on expanding health coverage through public programs, employer-based benefits, or a universal, single-payer proposal. Throughout its history, Health Access has worked to advance comprehensive health reforms and the vision of quality, affordable, universal health care for all Californians.

Under the Trump Administration, we faced multiple existential threats to the health coverage, but together we were able to protect the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and with it, the health care coverage of tens of millions of Californians.

President Biden and Vice President Harris are now committed to building on and expanding health care coverage, using the ACA as a framework. There are many exciting possibilities under the new Administration including enhanced premium subsides to purchase health care coverage, making health care more affordable than ever. This is key to keeping Californians covered, especially during this health and economic crisis created by COVID-19 where many people are losing their jobs and their health care coverage.

Health Access has been working to:

  • Support and improve Medi-Cal and Covered California, key pillars of our health system.
  • Monitor the industry response to health reform and work to prevent loopholes or unintended consequences in insurance market reforms, consumer protections, or other aspects of the ACA.
  • Continue to promote the ACA and California’s progress in implementing and improving on it and prevent efforts to undo its key guarantees and protections.
  • Secure our victories in California, from Covered California’s active purchasing authority and standardized benefits, to efforts at increased inclusion.
  • Defend the integrity of core federal health programs, Medicaid, Medicare, and ACA, and fend off political attacks, privatization, defunding, and other problems.
  • Improve the benefits of “Obamacare” in both public programs and private coverage, including affordable vision and dental options.
  • Shift the state and national conversation from a debate about whether the ACA should exist to one about the ongoing reforms and improvements that are still needed.
  • Develop ideas and seek opportunities to advance federal improvements to the ACA and other key federal health laws, from advancing 1332 waiver concepts to efforts toward positive federal legislative and administrative changes. This would include improved affordability, and improved financing while mitigating against mechanisms like the excise tax that discourage comprehensive benefits.
  • Continue to secure the “fair share” contribution of employers into our health system, to better secure and expand coverage for working families, to protect taxpayers and ensure the sustainability of our health system for the long-term, and to promote fairness and a level playing field for employers who offer health benefits but compete against those who don’t.
  • Support reforms that improve our health system to be more universal, progressively financed, cost-effective, streamlined and efficient, comprehensive, and prevention-oriented, helping to advance the principles and the goal of a single-payer system. Support both a single-payer health system and help articulate, develop and support steps to such a reform.
  • Advance the spirit of health reform as an ongoing effort.

Learn More

Health Access Analysis & Advocacy under the Trump Administration

Health Access Analysis & Advocacy (2013-2016)

Health Access Analysis & Advocacy (2012 and Older)