President Obama’s controversial Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has divided opinion regarding the direction the United States should take to contain healthcare costs while also expanding coverage.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act aims to give individuals and businesses access to healthcare exchanges that allow them to browse competitively priced healthcare plans. It also limits the ability of health insurance companies to discriminate against people with preexisting conditions. Additionally the act reduces the costs of preventative care, such as physicals, colonoscopies or contraception while also expanding Medicaid eligibility.

While some states are starting to put together their healthcare exchanges in response to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, other states are questioning the validity of the act itself & are taking their case all the way to the Supreme Court. Continue reading “US Healthcare Reform, Costs and Challenges In 2012” »