What is one of the benefits of the ACA regarding preventive care?

The Affordable Care Act includes significant provisions aimed at enhancing access to preventive care services without additional costs for patients. Under the ACA, health plans are required to cover a wide range of preventive services—such as vaccinations, screenings, and annual check-ups—without charging patients a co-payment, coinsurance, or deductible, as long as these services are delivered by a network provider. This is designed to encourage individuals to seek preventive care, leading to early detection and treatment of diseases, which can ultimately reduce healthcare costs over time and improve overall public health outcomes.

This emphasis on covered preventive care helps ensure that financial barriers do not prevent patients from receiving beneficial health services, promoting proactive health management among the population. In contrast, options suggesting that patients pay for preventive services, face limited access, or incur additional costs do not align with the ACA's objective to enhance healthcare accessibility and affordability.