The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (often called the Affordable Care Act or ACA) is a comprehensive healthcare reform law enacted in March 2010. Its main goals are to increase health insurance coverage, lower healthcare costs, and improve healthcare quality. The ACA introduced measures such as the expansion of Medicaid, the establishment of health insurance marketplaces, and mandates for individuals to have health insurance. The ACA also includes provisions to protect patients, such as prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions. Additionally, it allows young adults to stay on their parents' insurance plans until age 26, making healthcare more accessible for many Americans.