Affordable Care Act (ACA) 

The Affordable Care Act, often called the ACA or Obamacare, was passed in 2010 to make health insurance more accessible and affordable for Americans. Before the ACA, many people couldn’t get insurance due to pre-existing conditions or couldn’t afford it. The ACA changed that by expanding Medicaid, creating health insurance marketplaces, and offering subsidies to help people pay for coverage. It also introduced essential health benefits that all insurance plans must cover, like preventive care, maternity care, and mental health services.