Although much has been made of the Affordable Care Act’s debut, especially the recent disappointments of HealthCare.gov, it is important to remember that the most far-reaching effects of the Affordable Care Act have been in place since its enactment in 2010. The health insurance industry’s most egregious practices have been curtailed; no longer can preexisting conditions, lifetime limits on benefits or retroactive cancelling of coverage deny hardworking Americans the healthcare they deserve. Families can keep young adults on their coverage until they are 26, making coverage affordable for one of the least covered portions of the American population. Because of the Affordable Care Act, the health insurance industry has to function with humanity.

As the effects of the law become clearer, estimates of its effects continue to improve. The Congressional Budget Office’s projections of the law’s costs have continually trended downward, and recent evidence since the launch of the exchanges has suggested that the ACA could save the federal government even more money. The latest projection, from May 2013, predicted a net reduction in the federal deficit by $109 billion as a result of the ACA. Recent data from the health exchanges show lower premiums than expected, meaning handing out smaller subsidies. All told, when the CBO releases an updated projection in May, it should be giving deficit hawks something to smile about: another $190 billion in savings according to the Center for American Progress.

To their credit, many of the bills detractors have cited legitimate concerns regarding the act’s effects on employment. With the economy still in a fragile state following the recession, managing the prospects of small businesses is a top economic priority, which is why it is so encouraging that so far, employment has yet to be impacted. Granted, the ACA is still fairly new and the employer mandate has been delayed, which makes gauging the full effect of the law difficult. But the delay provides a window for many without health insurance to enter into the individual market, obviating any need for their employers to offer coverage once the employer mandate becomes active. More importantly, however, is the reasoning behind the employer mandate itself. That workers have been locked into specific jobs for fear of losing health insurance if they switched employers has been an accepted economic fact for decades. Giving employees the ability to choose between jobs more easily will allow people to make the most of their careers without worrying that they may be sacrificing their health.

It’s easy to get lost in the complexity surrounding the health care debates; the nuance required to address our most difficult problems lends itself to mischaracterization. Oversimplification of the health care law can confuse the issue, and that is to a large extent the reason it has gotten some bad press. While polls find majorities against the law as a whole, the individual propositions almost all win easy majority approval. What’s important to realize is that complex problems require complex solutions, and that overall the results of the law have been positive and only look to be improving. By 2020, 95 percent of Americans will have more affordable, more comprehensive health insurance, a reduced federal deficit and increased job freedom. Although the health care law isn’t perfect, it’s shaping up to be a pretty good start, website glitches and all.