The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is a 2010 law that expanded access to health insurance by offering subsidies to people who buy coverage on their own and by setting new rules for private insurers. The subsidies are in the form of tax credits to reduce monthly insurance premiums for people buying coverage. Until the Covid-19 pandemic, those subsidies were available only to individuals and households earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Many middle-income enrollees were often left facing high premiums.