What significant change did the Affordable Care Act (ACA) implement?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) brought about a monumental shift in the landscape of healthcare in the United States by instituting mandatory health insurance for all individuals. This requirement aims to ensure that more people have access to health coverage, thereby reducing the number of uninsured individuals. The ACA introduced the individual mandate, which incentivized citizens to obtain health insurance or face financial penalties, although this mandate has undergone changes since its initial implementation.

This significant change was designed to expand health coverage, enhance the affordability of insurance, and mitigate the financial burden of medical costs on individuals. It also supports various provisions such as the establishment of health insurance exchanges, where individuals can shop for and enroll in insurance plans, and the expansion of Medicaid in many states, providing healthcare access to low-income populations.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary objectives or impacts of the ACA. The act did not eliminate Medicaid; rather, it aimed to expand it. It also did not solely focus on funding medical research, as its core initiatives were geared toward enhancing healthcare access and coverage. Lastly, the ACA does not involve removing age-related health coverage; instead, it includes provisions specifically aimed at ensuring that older adults cannot be denied coverage based on age.