What is the primary aim of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)?

The primary aim of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is to expand insurance coverage and improve the quality of healthcare in the United States. This landmark legislation, enacted in 2010, sought to increase access to health insurance for millions of Americans who were previously uninsured or underinsured. The ACA introduced several key provisions that facilitated this expansion, such as the establishment of health insurance exchanges, the expansion of Medicaid eligibility, and subsidies to help individuals afford coverage.

In addition to broadening access to insurance, the ACA also emphasizes enhancing the quality of healthcare. It includes measures aimed at improving patient outcomes and reducing costs, such as promoting preventive care, requiring insurers to cover essential health benefits, and implementing programs to reduce hospital readmission rates.

The other options do not accurately reflect the ACA's goals. Limiting healthcare coverage options goes against the ACA's purpose of increasing access. Decreasing healthcare provider salaries or eliminating competitive insurance markets are not objectives of the ACA; rather, the act seeks to foster a more competitive landscape to improve affordability and quality for consumers. Thus, the focus on expanding coverage and improving quality aptly captures the ACA's primary aim.