The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (more commonly known as the Affordable Care Act [ACA] or Obamacare) is a healthcare reform law enacted in 2010 with the intention of providing more affordable health insurance to more people. The ACA introduced us to the insurance marketplace with metal-tiered insurance plans that you could buy for yourself and your family as an individual. In addition, depending on your income, you could receive subsidies to help you pay premiums. Plans that are considered ACA-compliant must offer certain types of coverage and cannot deny you for pre-existing conditions.