“Consumer Reports has developed this brief guide to help you understand how the changes brought about by health reform, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, will affect you and your family, now and in the future. Providing easy-to-understand comparative information to help consumers make the best decisions in the marketplace has been the mission of Consumer Reports since our founding 76 years ago. The ACA keeps in place many parts of the existing private insurance system, but it makes other major changes as well. The Supreme Court has ruled on the constitutionality of the law, upholding all but one important part of the legislation. It is not surprising that many consumers are confused and are now trying to understand what health reform does, and how it may affect their families. It’s crucial for all of us to understand how the law affects our family situations, and also how it changes options for ourselves and our loved ones as circumstances change due to illness, job changes, or aging.”