It was also meant to help people with “pre-existing conditions.” Which it has, immensely. Prior to ACA one could not leave, or it was prohibitively expensive to leave the health insurer one had when first diagnosed with a chronic condition, and therefore could also be unable to leave an employer if said employer provided health insurance. Further, one could hit a payment cap and then be uninsurable, and if a payment was missed one would get dropped and then became uninsurable. I’m guessing millions if not tens of millions now have insurance who otherwise would not. Plans are subsidized based on income which is helpful.