What is the Affordable Care Act (ACA) primarily known for?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is primarily known for expanding access to health insurance and increasing consumer protections. This landmark legislation, enacted in 2010, aimed to reduce the number of uninsured individuals in the U.S. One of its key features was the establishment of health insurance marketplaces where individuals could compare and purchase insurance plans, often with subsidies to make coverage more affordable.

Additionally, the ACA included important consumer protection measures such as prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions and eliminating lifetime and annual limits on essential health benefits. These changes significantly improved access to healthcare for millions of Americans and provided greater security for individuals regarding their health insurance coverage.

By focusing on these aspects, the ACA fundamentally reshaped the U.S. healthcare landscape to make it more inclusive and protective for consumers, which is why this answer accurately reflects the primary purposes of the legislation.