human
I've heard rumors about the new health care plan. What is it all about?
assistant
The Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, and it has been a major overhaul of the U.S. health care system since then. It includes provisions that will help millions of uninsured Americans get access to affordable health insurance, including Medicaid expansion, subsidies for private plans, and an individual mandate requiring most people to have some form of health coverage or pay a penalty. In addition, the ACA created exchanges where individuals can shop for health insurance plans, as well as state-based marketplaces called Health Insurance Marketplaces (HIMs). These are open enrollment periods each year during which individuals may purchase health insurance.