What must US citizens and legal residents maintain according to the ACA law?

According to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all U.S. citizens and legal residents are required to maintain qualifying health care coverage, which ensures that they have access to a set of health benefits that meet minimum standards. Qualifying coverage could come from various sources such as employer-sponsored insurance, government programs like Medicaid or Medicare, or insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace. This requirement was established to promote health coverage for all citizens and to reduce the number of uninsured individuals, ultimately aiming to improve public health outcomes.

Maintaining qualifying health care coverage specifically refers to plans that meet essential health benefits, limit out-of-pocket costs, and adhere to other ACA regulations. While it is true that individuals may obtain insurance in many forms, not every form of insurance qualifies under the ACA's requirements, which highlights the importance of understanding what constitutes acceptable coverage.