Final answer:
A Medicare supplement insurer cannot refuse coverage or charge higher premiums to applicants under 65 who are eligible for Medicare due to disability or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The ACA has broadened healthcare coverage, including Medicaid expansion, and prohibits exclusions for preexisting conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
A Medicare supplement insurer cannot deny an application for a Medicare supplement policy nor charge a higher premium if the applicant is under 65 and eligible for Medicare due to disability or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), aims to expand healthcare coverage to millions of uninsured Americans, including extending Medicaid eligibility to individuals earning up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. Additionally, the ACA prohibits insurers from rejecting applications based on preexisting conditions and mandates that young adults can remain on their parents' insurance policies until the age of 26.
Medicare, established in 1965, is a federal health insurance program primarily for individuals over the age of 65, but also covers those under 65 with certain disabilities or conditions like ESRD, reinforcing protections for vulnerable populations. This program, together with Medicaid, which provides benefits for the disabled and welfare recipients, constitutes a significant portion of the government-funded health care system in the United States.