Which Medicaid expansion demographic was covered in 2016 as a result of the Affordable Care Act?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded Medicaid coverage primarily to low-income adults, allowing states to extend eligibility to individuals with incomes up to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). This expansion aimed to provide insurance to a demographic that often lacked coverage, specifically focusing on adults who previously fell into the gap between traditional Medicaid eligibility and the income thresholds for subsidized insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

By including adults above 133 percent of the FPL, the ACA allowed for a significant increase in the number of individuals who could receive Medicaid benefits, especially in states that chose to adopt the expansion. This demographic was particularly vulnerable when it came to accessing healthcare, often working in low-wage jobs that did not provide health insurance.

Other populations, such as children below 200 percent of FPL, low-income elderly citizens, and uninsured adults in general, did not have their specific eligibility altered solely by the ACA; instead, they were already covered under existing Medicaid programs or through other health initiatives. Therefore, the correct answer focuses precisely on the adult demographic that gained new coverage provisions as a result of the ACA's Medicaid expansion.