What is the Affordable Care Act?
A US federal statute signed into law on March 23, 2010, by President Barack Obama, the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” is often referred to as the “Affordable Care Act” or just ACA. It is also knowns as “Obamacare.” It signified the healthcare system’s biggest overhaul and coverage expansion since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.
Major provisions of the ACA were enacted in 2014 and included things like making major medical plans guaranteed issue (not denying coverage for preexisting conditions), not charging more for preexisting conditions, ensuring all qualifying plans provide basic essential health benefits, banning annual and lifetime caps on essential benefits, prohibiting insurers from dropping customers when they become sick, and providing covered preventive care services.
