The Limits of Accessibility Under the Affordable Care Act

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) aimed to increase accessibility to medical resources for those previously uninsured. Certainly, the ACA has expanded insurance to millions of Americans, however, the evidence and discourse surrounding health accessibility calls into question why, despite the growth of insured Americans, the increase in health insurance coverage under the ACA has not lead to greater accessibility for low income minorities. I propose that disparities in preventive care, the emergency room, and primary care provider services stand as barriers for low income minorities. Insurance coverage does not necessarily equate to greater accessibility if individuals do not have the means to utilize those resources