The Coverage Provisions in the Affordable Care Act: An Update

The enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ushered in sweeping changes to the U.S. health care system. While the law touched almost every aspect of our health care system, the parts of the law that have garnered the most attention, and generated the most controversy, are those relating to the availability and affordability of health insurance coverage. The coverage provisions in the law were aimed at improving access to insurance, enhancing the quality of coverage by imposing minimum benefit standards, and increasing the affordability of coverage through expanded public programs and new subsidies for private coverage. This brief examines these coverage provisions, providing an update on how they have been implemented and assessing their impact. It also discusses key issues looking ahead.