'It destroyed health care': Internet divided as Barack Obama reflects on Affordable Care Act's impact

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Former President Barack Obama took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to talk about the Affordable Care Act which his administration passed 14 years ago, and incumbent Joe Biden carried forward, on Saturday, March 23.

A landmark legislation for healthcare in the United States, it is often cited by Joe Biden in his bid for re-election, and criticized by Republicans and Donald Trump for the same reason.

Biden posted on Saturday, "The Affordable Care Act provides millions of Americans with the freedom and security to live the life they want without the fear that one accident or illness will bankrupt them and their families."

"We’ve continued building on the progress of the Affordable Care Act by getting more people affordable health insurance, lowering prescription drug prices, and giving families more breathing room," he added.

Barack Obama's X-thread

"Fourteen years ago today, I signed the Affordable Care Act into law," began Obama's first of the 5-post thread on X.

"Afterwards, one Republican member of the House called the ACA the 'most dangerous piece of legislation ever passed in Congress.' Another predicted the country would 'never recover from it.' But then something else happened: it actually worked."

"Since the ACA was passed, the percentage of uninsured Americans has been cut in half. And thanks to the investments the Biden-Harris Administration has made to build on the ACA, more than 21 million Americans now have access to quality, affordable health care," he continued in his second tweet.

"Today, young people are staying on their parents’ plans until they’re 26. Americans with pre-existing conditions are no longer being denied coverage. Seniors and people with disabilities are paying less for prescription drugs. And Americans everywhere are switching jobs and starting their own businesses without worrying about losing their insurance," read the third tweet.

"In so many ways, the Affordable Care Act has become part of our lives, changing the way we think about health insurance. But that doesn’t mean we can take it for granted," continued the fourth.

Obama took the opportunity to slam Republicans ahead of the 2024 presidential election, writing, "Right now, some Republicans are still trying to repeal and gut the ACA – including calling for cuts that could put insurance out of reach for tens of millions of Americans."

"We’ve come too far to let that happen. President Biden has proven that he’ll keep fighting to build on the ACA, and we need to fight with him. Because health care is not, and never will be, a privilege. It’s a right – and there’s so much more we can do to make it more affordable and effective for everyone," he added.

Internet reacts to Barack Obama's tweets

Netizens had mixed reactions to Obama's X-thread, as the following tweets demonstrate.

"Absolutely. Healthcare is a fundamental right, and we must stand together to ensure it remains accessible and affordable for all," wrote a user.

"As a senior, living alone, I’m grateful every time I need prescriptions refilled. Thank you, Former President Obama," shared another.

"Thank you so much. The affordable care act has saved so many Americans from medical bankruptcy and has literally saved the lives of many people with preexisting conditions who, prior to that, could never have gotten insured. Allowing kids to stay on parent plan to 26 is great," commented a third.

On the other hand, a user stated, "The Republican critics were correct. I have an unaffordable premium with a sky high deductible. Thanks a lot."

"It’s not affordable at all. Everybody’s premiums have skyrocketed and the waiting times to see a doctor and getting appointments is horrible," jibed a fifth.

"It didn’t work. It destroyed health care in this country," slammed a sixth.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.