On June 28, 2012, the last date of the current court session, the US Supreme Court issued their decision on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, also known as Obamacare or healthcare reform.  This decision affirmed almost every provision in this Act.  While the court declared the so-called individual mandate unconstitutional under the commerce clause of the constitution, the court found this mandate to be constitutional under the tax and spend powers of the constitution. What does this change of authority mean for us as individuals in the US who use the health care system?  It will have no change on the application or effects from the individual mandate.  It will, however, change the language proponents and opponents will use to describe their opinions of the Act.  During an election year this change has already been heard on most media outlets.

Medicaid is a government run health insurance program for poor and disabled people.  According to the American Diabetes Association 3.5 million people with diabetes use Medicaid for all or some of their medical care. Ongoing and preventive health care is particularly important for people with diabetes to avoid costly medical complications. Many suggested changes to Medicaid may affect the level of care received by Medicaid recipients.

Two government programs that provide payments to people with disabilities are the Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), (also known as Disability Income Benefits), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).  Many people do not realize that these are two different programs.  The SSDI application is an insurance claim.  The SSI application is a welfare application. An individual must first meet basic eligibility requirements and then they must be declared disabled according to the Social Security Administration.  The eligibility requirements for each program are different, however, the disability criteria are the same.

This article includes suggestions to make probate easier for the ones you leave behind and some suggestions if you are administering an estate.  I am writing this from my own experience.  I am currently going through this process. My father died in January and I am a co-executor for his estate.