Affordable health care was the primary point of contention[1] in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which hit 43 days on Nov. 12, 2025.
This fight highlights a persistent concern for Americans despite passage of the landmark Affordable Care Act 15 years ago.
In 2024, 27.2 million Americans, or 8.2% [2] of the population, lacked health insurance entirely. A significant number of Americans have trouble affording...