Health Care Reform
President Barack Obama signed the sweeping federal health care overhaul into law on March 23, 2010, but the debate over it is as fierce as ever. Congress designed this framework for revamping the nation's health care system to phase in over the next decade. Over that time, it's expected to expand health insurance coverage to more than 30 million additional Americans; help consumers better understand and compare health insurance policies; require insurers to cover pre-existing conditions; require insurers to spend at least 80 percent of their premium dollars on health care; and help fill a gap in prescription drug coverage for seniors.
The law has drawn fire from critics who argue it does little to control the soaring costs of health care. They also contend that the law is unconstitutional because it requires all Americans to purchase health care insurance. It's likely the U.S. Supreme Court will settle that legal question.
Meanwhile, public attitudes about the law remain divided as well. Depending on the poll, Americans are split or a majority favors its repeal.
Writer: Elizabeth Stawicki
- State could help cover federal health care 'no-man's land'
A low-income group under age 65 falls into a kind of no-man's land for affordable coverage. They earn too much to qualify for assistance through Medicaid, but not enough to afford even subsidized commercial insurance.May 23, 2012 - Feds want to raise Medicaid payment rates
The federal government is proposing to temporarily raise Medicaid payment rates for primary care doctors in Minnesota and nationwide.May 9, 2012 - MN disabilities program gets $1.8M grant
A Twin Cities-area program that serves adults with disabilities and complex medical conditions has won a major innovation grant under the federal health care law.May 8, 2012 - Supreme Court misunderstanding on health overhaul?
A possible misunderstanding about President Barack Obama's health care overhaul could cloud Supreme Court deliberations on its fate, leaving the impression that the law's insurance requirement is more onerous than it actually is.April 10, 2012 - Insurance mandate a tough sell to Supreme Court
Conservative justices seemed unmoved by arguments in favor of requirement to buy insurance.March 27, 2012 - Outside Supreme Court, Santorum argues own case
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum appeared outside the Supreme Court on Monday as the justices heard arguments over whether President Barack Obama's overhaul of the nation's health care system is constitutional.March 26, 2012 - Justices ready to move to heart of health case
The Supreme Court has finished the first of three days of arguments on the fate of the Obama administration's overhaul of the nation's health care system. The justices appear unlikely to allow an obscure tax law to derail the case.March 26, 2012 - State: Health care law repeal would hit harder outside MN
Other states are likely to be affected more if the Supreme Court dismantles the health care reform overhaul, but Minnesotans still have reason to pay attention. The high court on Monday begins hearings on a challenge to the law.March 26, 2012 - In health case, combustible mix of politics and law
U.S. Supreme Court is set to begin hearing oral arguments Monday in a Republican-led challenge to the national health care law that has convulsed the country and its political class for more than two years -- and may well define President Obama's tenure in the White House.March 25, 2012 - How the health law could survive without a mandate
A Supreme Court ruling against the mandate might not doom the health overhaul law.March 23, 2012 - Senate panel OKs GOP alternatives to health exchanges
A Senate committee has advanced two Republican proposals aimed at countering the federal health care overhaul.March 14, 2012 - Feds release health overhaul blueprint for states
Tackling a huge logistical challenge, the Obama administration Monday released an ambitious blueprint for states to match up uninsured Americans with coverage that's right for them under the health care overhaul law.March 12, 2012 - Obama's health care law: A trek, not a sprint
Even if Obama is re-elected, he won't be in office to oversee completion of his signature domestic policy accomplishment, assuming Republicans don't succeed in repealing it.March 11, 2012 - Survey: Many Minnesotans still without insurance
A new report shows that the portion of Minnesotans who have health insurance has not recovered from losses that occurred during the recession that ended in 2009.March 6, 2012 - Health forums to gather Minnesotans' views on reform
The Citizens League and the Bush Foundation will be reaching out to gather community views this spring on how Minnesota should carry out health care reform.March 2, 2012
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