What significant change did the Affordable Care Act introduce to the U.S. healthcare system?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) primarily aimed to improve health insurance quality and affordability for millions of Americans. One of its significant provisions was the introduction of health insurance marketplaces, which allowed individuals to compare and purchase insurance plans, often with subsidies available based on income. This helped to increase access to affordable healthcare coverage, particularly for those who were previously uninsured or underinsured.

Additionally, the ACA established essential health benefits that all insurance plans must cover, leading to improvements in the quality of coverage. It also implemented measures to prevent insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions, thereby ensuring that more people could obtain necessary health services without the burden of exorbitant costs.

The focus on improving affordability and access is a hallmark of the ACA, making it a vital reform aimed at enhancing the healthcare landscape in the United States.