Navigating the Affordable Care Act and the Patient with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) is a critically important yet complex piece of legislation with far reaching impacts on patient care especially for those with chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease. The tenets of the Affordable Care Act affect not only those purchasing new plans through the marketplaces but also Americans across the country as it sets baseline standards for many aspects of coverage. This review will address the fundamental goals that drove the inception of the legislation, the impact of the Affordable Care Act on day-to-day patient care, and the key components of the marketplace plans and potential subsidies.