Affordable Care Act 2010 Research

The paper “Affordable Care Act 2010: Implications for Mental Health Illness and Substance Abuse” is a great example of a nursing essay. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, also commonly referred to as Obamacare, can be termed as the most progressive and inclusive piece of healthcare legislation ever to be implemented by the American federal government since the institutionalization of the Medicare and Medicaid programs in 1965. During its infancy years, the ACA has been effective in cushioning uninsured Americans from catastrophic medical expenses by increasing the access, quality, and affordability of health insurance (Martin, 2015). Owing to the fact that most individuals with mental health and substance abuse conditions were previously uninsured, it follows that they stand to gain immensely from the passage of the ACA. This paper attempts to shed light on the implications of the ACA for mental health conditions and substance abuse. Prior to the passage of the Act on March 30, 2010, most American healthcare insurers were known to deny insurance coverage to individuals with particular health burdens such as mental illness and substance addiction. However, these individuals are now included in the mainstream healthcare system as the Act “prohibits insurers from denying coverage to individuals regardless of pre-existing conditions” (Martin, 2015, p. 408). Such a shift is of immense importance to many people who were previously debarred from the private market, including those who could not secure services for known health challenges such as mental sickness and substance abuse (Golden & Vail, 2014).