According to the Affordable Care Act, what is one goal related to healthcare costs?

One of the primary goals of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is to reduce healthcare costs while enhancing the quality of care delivered to patients. This focus on cost reduction is achieved through various mechanisms, such as encouraging preventive care, improving efficiency in healthcare delivery, and promoting value-based care models that emphasize quality over quantity of services. By aiming for better health outcomes and reducing unnecessary expenditures, the ACA seeks to make healthcare more affordable for individuals and families, ultimately contributing to greater overall efficiency in the healthcare system.

The other options do not align as closely with the foundational objectives of the ACA. For instance, increasing out-of-pocket expenses contradicts the aim of making healthcare more accessible and affordable. While universal healthcare coverage is a broader concept, the ACA specifically focuses on expanding access through insurance reforms rather than implementing a fully universal system. Promotion of private health insurance, while part of the ACA framework, does not fully address the central goal of reducing costs and improving quality.