Final answer:
Under the ACA, exclusions for pre-existing conditions cannot be longer than allowed by the law, and individuals with pre-existing conditions cannot be denied health insurance coverage. The act has significantly increased the number of Americans with health insurance and provided various protections in the health insurance marketplace.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the replacement of an individual accident and health insurance policy, the question of whether a pre-existing conditions exclusion in the new contract can be longer than the exclusion in the original policy is tied to the specific regulations of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), often referred to as Obamacare.
The ACA has led to significant increases in the number of Americans with health insurance coverage. From a high of 20.3% uninsured in 2012, the percentage dropped to 11.5% by 2016, reflecting the success of the ACA in expanding access to healthcare.