Health Care

The U.S. Congressional Budget Office estimates that gross spending on the Medicare program is expected to nearly double in nominal terms to $1,038 billion in 2020. In addition, as a proportion of gross domestic product, Medicare spending would likely grow from 3.5% in 2009 to 4.6% in 2020.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — popularly referred to as Obamacare — opened for business on October 1, 2013, when the system’s health-care exchanges began enrolling members. Among the many changes under the ACA, employer-provided health plans must cover prescription contraception with no co-payment.

A requirement that middle schoolers be vaccinated against pertussis seems to protect the wider community and encourage preteens to receive other types of inoculations.