What aspect did the ACA modify regarding health insurance affordability?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) made significant changes to the healthcare landscape with a primary goal of increasing access to health insurance for individuals and families, particularly those who do not qualify for public coverage like Medicaid. One of the key components was the introduction of subsidies on the federally-run health insurance exchanges (or marketplaces), aimed at helping lower-income individuals and families afford health insurance premiums.

These subsidies are based on household income and are designed specifically for those who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but still struggle to afford commercial health insurance. By enabling more people in this income bracket to purchase coverage, the ACA aimed to reduce the number of uninsured and enhance overall health outcomes in the population. Thus, the modification that occurred was directly related to making healthcare more reachable and financially manageable for individuals who fall outside of existing public assistance programs.

In contrast, the other choices present scenarios that do not accurately reflect the changes made by the ACA. The ACA does not cater specifically to wealthy individuals, nor does it eliminate all health insurance costs. Furthermore, it does not disregard employer coverage options; in fact, the law includes provisions that encourage employers to offer health coverage to their employees.