What is the goal of the Affordable Care Act?

• A. Increase healthcare costs and reduce quality.
• B. The Affordable Care Act aims to enhance the quality of healthcare while reducing overall costs for consumers.
• C. Eliminate preventive services.
• D. Provide free care to all.

Answer: (B)

The goal of the Affordable Care Act is to improve access to healthcare while controlling how much people pay for it by boosting quality and reducing overall costs. It aims to raise the standard of care through preventive services, coverage rules, and quality initiatives, while making insurance more affordable through subsidies and expanded coverage options like marketplaces and, for many, expanded Medicaid. This combination helps people get better care without facing prohibitive costs. It’s not about providing free care to everyone, and it doesn’t reduce preventive services; in fact, it emphasizes making preventive care accessible at no extra cost to patients.