Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) into law. Legislation (Public Law 111-148), commonly referred to as the health reform law. Among other things, the new law requires that all Americans maintain minimum essential coverage starting in 2014. At that time, health insurance companies will not be able to deny insurance coverage to individuals based on a pre-existing condition.