Progress Lost — The Unraveling of Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act

The 2010 enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marked a milestone in U.S. health care policy. By expanding eligibility for Medicaid, regulating private insurance, and providing income-related subsidies to help people purchase coverage, the ACA greatly expanded access to health insurance. During the past 15 years, the size of the uninsured population in the United States fell to historic lows, and evidence accumulated that extending coverage saved many lives.