Which term refers to the healthcare reform law signed in March 2010 with the goal of increasing access to health insurance while controlling costs?

• A. Affordable Care Act
• B. Medicaid
• C. Health Exchange
• D. Children's Health Insurance Program

Answer: (A)

The term is the Affordable Care Act. Signed into law in March 2010, it was a broad reform aimed at expanding health insurance access and slowing the growth of healthcare costs. It did this through multiple provisions: creating health insurance exchanges where individuals can buy coverage, expanding Medicaid to more people, and prohibiting insurers from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on preexisting conditions, among others. The other options refer to individual programs or features rather than the reform as a whole—the Medicaid program, the Health Exchange created by the law, and CHIP for children's coverage—so the Affordable Care Act is the correct umbrella term for this reform.