What is one purpose of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) aims to set up a competitive private health insurance market as one of its core objectives. By establishing health insurance exchanges, where individuals and families can compare different health insurance plans, the ACA enhances competition among insurers. This increased competition is intended to drive down costs and improve the quality of health insurance options available to consumers.

Furthermore, the ACA includes provisions to standardize benefits and essential health coverage, which encourages insurers to compete based on the quality and value of their plans rather than solely on the price. This structure helps ensure that more individuals have access to affordable healthcare options, fostering a more robust healthcare marketplace in the United States.