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The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010. Together, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) transformed the existing health care system in the United States and expanded Medicaid and Medicare services, while mandating all individuals to sign up for health insurance coverage. Since its passage, the ACA has taken on a decisive, divisive, and defining role in American politics, markets, and everyday life, and an estimated 17 million Americans gaining coverage as a result of the mandate. The controversy surrounding “Obamacare”, healthcare reform has understandably thrusted healthcare to the center stage of the discussion table in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, with both candidates taking strong stances on either side of the aisle.

Even if ACA itself may turn out be a tentatively benign, if not beneficial, policy for small business in the long run, the critical question remains: where do the two 2016 U.S. presidential candidates stand on the issue? Hillary Clinton, whose website claims she will "be the small business president," takes a strong stance for the law, vowing to defend the Affordable Care Act, strengthen its benefits, and minimize the law’s detriments to small business. Donald Trump on the other hand vehemently opposes the Affordable Care Act, stating that he will request a congressional repeal of the act on his first day in office. Moving forward in American healthcare system reform, it is important to consider the possibility of the ACA’s effects on small businesses growing more pronounced or remaining neutral. Regardless the outcome of the election, the American population and economy requires a U.S. Congress and President who are willing and prepared to reap the potential benefits of the ACA - increased coverage for millions of Americans- and reform and protect against the potential detriments of rapidly rising premiums. Instead of introducing preemptive policy to replace or eliminate the ACA, a more measured, nuanced, and methodical process should be followed, to ensure that access to affordable and comprehensive health insurance coverage is available for all citizens.

(http://www.forbes.com/sites/hollymagister/2014/04/30/5-6m-small-businesses-blindsided-by-obamacare/#fd60fda45ffe)