The purpose of this research was to explore the ways in which the Affordable Care Act will affect Americans and the medical professionals who provide them with healthcare. This was completed by exploring universal healthcare systems in other industrialized nations that served as models for the Affordable Care Act, examining the politics within the United States that created the Affordable Care Act, and illuminating perspectives from medical professionals on the impact of the Affordable Care Act on the patient-doctor experience. Upon examining this data, it becomes clear that the Affordable Care Act is merely the foot in the door in healthcare reform, and by no means creates a universal system nor completely solves the major challenges in American healthcare access and delivery. By showing the progression of the Affordable Care Act to present day, this research highlights a major turning point in healthcare in the United States, and also acts as a critique for the bettering of healthcare reform legislation.