Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), often called "Obamacare," is a U.S. law enacted in 2010 aimed at making healthcare more accessible and affordable. It expanded Medicaid, created health insurance exchanges for individuals to compare and purchase plans, and mandated insurance coverage for essential health benefits. The ACA also requires insurers to cover pre-existing conditions without charging higher rates. Overall, it seeks to reduce the number of uninsured Americans and improve the quality of healthcare while controlling costs.