What is the name of the 2010 U.S. law that requires citizens to have minimum health coverage?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), commonly known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was enacted in 2010 to expand access to health insurance coverage for the American population. One of the key features of this legislation is the individual mandate, which requires citizens to obtain minimum health coverage or face a penalty. This requirement aimed to encourage healthy individuals to enroll in health plans, thereby broadening the risk pool and making insurance more affordable for all.

While the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is significant in regulating health information privacy and ensuring the portability of health insurance, it does not mandate minimum health coverage. The Medicare Modernization Act primarily focuses on providing prescription drug benefits for Medicare beneficiaries and does not address individual health coverage. Therefore, recognizing the PPACA as both the formal name of the law and its common reference as the Affordable Care Act solidifies its central role in shaping modern healthcare policy in the United States.