Final answer:
Under the ACA, consumers must have health insurance that contains Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC). Exemptions include those who have employer-sponsored coverage, those who buy in individual markets, those who are self-insured, and those who cannot afford or have religious objections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), consumers must have health insurance that contains Minimum Essential Coverage (MEC) as of January 1, 2014. However, there are individuals who are exempt from this law. These include:
- those who obtain employer-sponsored coverage
- those who purchase in the individual markets
- those who are self-insured
- those who cannot afford or have religious objections