After a year fully in place, the Affordable Care Act has largely succeeded in delivering on President Obama’s main promises, an analysis by a team of reporters and data researchers shows. But it has also fallen short in some ways and given rise to a powerful conservative backlash.
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1. Has the percentage of uninsured people been reduced?
Yes, the number of uninsured has fallen significantly.
2. Has insurance under the law been affordable?
For many, yes, but not for all.
3. Did the Affordable Care Act improve health outcomes?
Data remains sparse except for one group, the young.
4. Will the online exchanges work better this year than last?
Most experts expect they will, but they will be tested by new challenges.
5. Has the health care industry been helped or hurt by the law?
The law mostly helped, by providing new paying patients and insurance customers.
6. How has the expansion of Medicaid fared?
Twenty-three states have opposed expansion, though several of them are reconsidering.
7. Has the law contributed to a slowdown in health care spending?
Perhaps, but mainly around the edges.