Apr 27, 2021
The Affordable Care Act has slowed increases in out-of-pocket costs for those with health insurance coverage under the law by about 80%, according to an analysis published by JAMA Network. Since the ACA was enacted in 2010, average out-of-pocket expenses for doctor visits, prescription drugs, and other services have risen by an average of 0.2% per year compared to an average of 1% per year during the nine years before the law's passage.
Out-of-pocket dental expenses increased 0.3% annually between 2009 and 2018, versus 1.7% per year between 2000 and 2009. Out-of-pocket fees for prescription drugs declined by about 3% per year after passage of the ACA, after they had increased by more than 1% annually in the nine years before the law was enacted.
Still, on average, people insured with ACA plans paid $1,148 in out-of-pocket costs in 2018, a 12% increase over the $1,028 spent in 2000. A 24% drop in out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs is responsible for much of this slowed growth in cash outlays for health services. Also, Medicaid expansion under the ACA has lowered healthcare expenditures for those covered.
