One effect of the Affordable Care Act is:

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) significantly reshaped the landscape of health insurance in the United States by imposing regulations on insurers to enhance consumer protection. A key feature of the ACA is that it mandates that health insurance plans cannot deny coverage or charge higher premiums based on pre-existing conditions. This regulation helps ensure that individuals with previous health issues have access to affordable insurance, improving their ability to receive necessary medical care.

Additionally, the ACA requires that insurers cover a set of essential health benefits, which further safeguards consumers by ensuring they receive comprehensive health coverage for a wide range of services, including hospitalization, maternity care, and mental health services, among others. These consumer protections were a fundamental aspect of the ACA, aimed at making health insurance more equitable and accessible to all Americans.

In contrast, other statements about the ACA suggest outcomes that do not accurately reflect the intent or impact of the law. For instance, the ACA enhanced coverage for preventive services rather than making it non-mandatory, aimed to increase access to emergency care instead of limiting it, and significantly increased the number of individuals insured through expanded Medicaid and healthcare marketplaces.