Congressional Republicans tried in vain to repeal it. President Donald Trump said he would simply let it die of its own flaws. Americans complained about it. But nearly eight years after President Barack Obama’s signature health care law was approved, the Affordable Care Act appears here to stay – and perhaps even flourish, experts say.
Having failed to outright undo the law, as they had promised constituents since the controversial measure was passed, Republicans used the December tax bill to defang the individual mandate, removing the financial penalties for people who do not carry health insurance. But even that move, which ACA backers feared would unravel the package, has not done so. In the most recent enrollment period ending in December, nearly 9 million people signed up for 2018 Obamacare – close to the previous year’s numbers and well beyond expectations.
