Origins: The Affordable Care Act

Passed in 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was a historic step toward healthcare justice in America. For the first time, it made health insurance accessible to millions—especially women, low-income families, freelancers, and contract workers who had been shut out of traditional employer-based coverage.

Before the ACA, insurance companies could deny coverage for things like pregnancy, cancer, or even surviving domestic violence. Women paid more for less. Maternity care wasn’t guaranteed. Being self-employed or in a gig job often meant going uninsured.

The ACA changed that. It banned discrimination based on gender or pre-existing conditions, allowed young people to stay on their parents’ plans until age 26, and created state marketplaces where individuals—including independent workers—could buy affordable plans. It also expanded Medicaid in states that opted in.

Today, the ACA remains a vital safety net—especially for communities historically excluded from care. And while it’s not perfect, it proved one thing: when we organize, we can make healthcare more equitable.

Because everyone—no matter their income, job status, or gender—deserves access to care.