Health Insurance
ACA (Affordable Care Act)
The ACA established consumer protections including guaranteed issue, coverage of preexisting conditions, and subsidized marketplace insurance for millions of Americans.
Last reviewed: May 2026 · Editorial methodology
Definition
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), signed into law in March 2010, is the most comprehensive reform of U.S. health insurance since Medicare's creation in 1965. Key provisions include the prohibition on denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on preexisting conditions, the requirement that all non-grandfathered individual and small group plans cover the ten Essential Health Benefits, and the creation of Health Insurance Marketplaces where individuals and families can comparison-shop for coverage. The ACA introduced income-based premium tax credits for marketplace enrollees with household incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL), a threshold later enhanced by the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act, which extended credits through 2025 and were further extended into 2026. The law also expanded Medicaid eligibility in participating states to adults with incomes up to 138% FPL. Provisions protecting young adults — allowing them to stay on a parent's plan until age 26 — remain among the ACA's most popular features.
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Cover Forge USA Editorial Team
Editorial Lead
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed 2026-06-14
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