human
I've been hearing a lot of talk about the new health care reform. What is it and what does it mean?
assistant
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law in 2010 and went into effect in 2014. It is intended to expand access to health insurance coverage for all Americans, while also making insurance more affordable by reducing out-of-pocket costs. It sets up exchanges where people can shop for health plans, as well as Medicaid expansion programs that cover millions more people. It also includes provisions like no lifetime limits on insurance coverage, free preventive care services, and subsidies for low-income individuals to help them afford their premiums.