Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, is a federal law passed in 2010 that aimed to increase the accessibility and affordability of health insurance for individuals and families in the United States.

The ACA included several key provisions to expand access to health insurance, such as:

Establishing state-based marketplaces where individuals can purchase health insurance plans

Offering subsidies to help low- and moderate-income individuals afford health insurance

Expanding Medicaid, a joint federal-state program that provides health coverage to low-income individuals

Prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions

Requiring most individuals to have health insurance or pay a penalty The ACA also included several provisions to improve the quality and affordability of health care, such as:

Providing funding for preventive care services

Creating new programs to promote quality and efficiency in the healthcare system

Reducing the growth of Medicare spending

The ACA has had a significant impact on the US healthcare system, greatly reducing the number of uninsured Americans, increasing access to preventive care services, and protecting people with pre-existing conditions from discrimination. However, it also faced criticism and legal challenges, and some of its provisions have been changed or eliminated by subsequent legislation and court decisions.