What the Affordable Care Act means for you

Here's how to make sense of your new benefits under the ACA.

The major provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) were scheduled to start January 1. By that date, all Americans are required to carry health insurance. Coverage is available to those who don't have it through the Health Insurance Marketplace. (As we went to press, the Marketplace website was experiencing some technical issues, but the government was working to repair them, and said the site should be fixed by the time you read this.) If you're still confused about the ACA and its terms, here's an overview.