Funny... 10 million people are now insured that weren't before.. and they love it.. It's going to might hard to convince folks that they can no longer keep their kids on their policies until age 26... that they can now be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions.. and that they will be thrown off their plans if they get sick due to lifetime limits..
I
always had health insurance coverage, for my entire adult life. When I was working I was able to get coverage from Kaiser (whom I've been with over 30 years), either for free or for very little cost through my employer. I have worked full time and plenty of overtime over the years, and paid all of my taxes which were deducted out of my payroll checks. I have never been on welfare, food-stamps, etc.
When I retired, I had to begin to pay my "Cobra" coverage out of pocket, and it was ridiculously expensive. But, although I rarely go to doctors, I would not be without health insurance, in case of a serious medical condition, car accident, etc. Unfortunately, the cost of the health care premiums were outrageously increased each and every year. I really resented having to line the pockets of some fat cats in the medical system with my hard earned dollars that I saved for retirement. BTW, I consider myself middle-class, and am by no means rich, so every dollar counts.
I'm happy with the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). It has greatly reduced my monthly premium payments, and as you say, has other benefits also. I don't have any pre-existing conditons, but I'm happy that other people aren't being penalized for them, if they suffer poor health. Even those in a red state like Kentucky are happy with Obamacare, as long as it remained under another name KyNect, they just wouldn't accept anything related to President Obama.
Another point is that health care plans can't drop you anymore without notice for no reason at all, they were able to do that before the ACA, and they did do it to many. I'm all for Obamacare, and the only thing better would be the Single Payer Plan (Universal health insurance). The countries who have that system find it very agreeable, and any odd complaints about the system are exaggerated for political purposes, IMO. BTW, I'm not a Democrat.