human
I'm a little confused by the new health care reform bill. Can you explain it in plain English?
assistant
The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare as it is more commonly known, was signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010. It is designed to expand access to affordable health insurance for millions of uninsured Americans, and reduce the cost of health care for those with existing coverage. To do so, it requires most individuals to have health insurance coverage, either through their employer, Medicaid, Medicare, or other government programs. Additionally, it creates tax credits that help people afford private insurance plans, and provides subsidies to small businesses who offer health insurance to their employees.