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== Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ==

The '''Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act''' (PPACA), often shortened to the '''Affordable Care Act''' (ACA) or colloquially known as '''Obamacare''', is a United States federal statute enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by President [[Barack Obama]] on March 23, 2010. 

Pronunciation: /peɪʃənt prəˈtɛkʃən ænd əˈfɔːrdəbəl keər ækt/

Etymology: The term "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" is derived from the act's full title, which was designed to reflect its primary goal: to increase the quality and affordability of health insurance, lower the uninsured rate by expanding public and private insurance coverage, and reduce the costs of healthcare for individuals and the government.

=== Provisions ===

The ACA includes numerous provisions, including reforms to the [[health insurance]] industry to prohibit discrimination based on pre-existing conditions and to allow children to remain on their parents' insurance plan until 26; the expansion of [[Medicaid]] eligibility; the establishment of health insurance exchanges; and the introduction of mandatory health insurance for individuals not covered by an employer-sponsored plan.

=== Impact ===

The ACA has had a significant impact on the U.S. healthcare system, leading to a substantial reduction in the number of uninsured Americans and making healthcare more accessible and affordable for many individuals. However, it has also been the subject of controversy and legal challenges, particularly in relation to the individual mandate and the expansion of Medicaid.

=== Related Terms ===

* [[Health Insurance]]
* [[Medicaid]]
* [[Barack Obama]]
* [[Healthcare reform in the United States]]
* [[Individual mandate]]
* [[Pre-existing condition]]

[[Category:Healthcare in the United States]]
[[Category:United States federal health legislation]]
[[Category:Acts of the 111th United States Congress]]

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