This summer, the Supreme Court will hand down a decision that could have profound ramifications for the future of the Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as Obamacare. If the Supreme Court decides to rules against the Obama Administration, defenders of the President’s plan worry that the results could be catastrophic for adults and children alike.

According to a recent Washington Post blog, possible implications of a ruling against the Obama Administration in this case include:

• A loss of insurance coverage for millions of Americans.
• A loss of coverage for 730,000 children whose parents would no longer receive subsidies from the federal government.
• A loss of coverage for 1.1 million children if Congress fails to provide more money to Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
• A loss of coverage for up to 2 million children if lawmakers also allow states to tighten income guidelines on Medicaid programs.

The picture painted above represents the worst case scenario for the outcome of this case. For example, even if the Supreme Court rules against Obamacare, Congress could still decide to continue to provide increased funding for CHIP programs, which would decrease the number of uninsured children significantly. Nonetheless, the results of the Supreme Court’s ruling will undoubtedly have an effect on Congress’ decision-making process.

Since nobody can accurately predict what will happen with Obamacare in the coming year, it is important to make the most out of your insurance coverage. If you or a member of your family is suffering from an injury or illness, be sure to:

• Take advantage of preventative care by scheduling your appointments as soon as possible.
• See your doctor now if you have a low deductible and you need medical care for an injury or illness.
• Schedule any necessary testing or treatment at your earliest convenience.

When choosing medical providers, remember to choose reputable doctors with solid histories of providing quality care.

March is National Nutrition Month, a campaign managed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The goal of this campaign is to highlight the important of making smart, informed nutritional decisions in order to promote a healthier lifestyle. However, making the right choices can be difficult when the information available to the public is contradictory or uncertain.

According to a recent op-ed by Nina Teicholz of the New York Times, new studies have debunked established nutrition guidelines a number of times in recent history. For example, Americans have been avoiding fat and cholesterol for years based on information indicating that consuming too much of either of these compounds would be dangerous to their health. However, the government has now repealed both of these guidelines after reports showed their original assumptions to be false.

Even the guidelines that remain in place have faced challenges. The government’s current recommendations maintain that saturated fats are linked to heart disease, in spite of several recent contradictions. Likewise, an influential Institute of Medicine study has also contradicted the government’s call to reduce salt intake.
To establish healthy eating habits in the face of contradictory advice:

• Take governmental nutrition recommendations in context, work with your doctor, and do your own research. Scrutinize the research studies that led to recommendations before accepting them as valid.
• Consider adopting the same nutritional principles that worked for previous generations: significant amounts of real, whole foods (including natural fat and protein and vegetables) with limited sugar and refined grains.

Every year, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) devotes one month to raising awareness about the latest treatment opinions and efforts to improve the lives of those suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Did you know?

• 2.5 million Americans will experience a brain injury this year alone.
• Falls are the leading cause of TBI (35.2 percent), followed by motor vehicle accidents (17.3 percent).
• Incidences of TBI have increased across all age groups.
• The annual cost of TBI in the United States is estimated at $48.3 billion.

Since brain injuries involve so many different body systems, they are difficult to treat, and doctors struggle to predict the long-term prognosis. Living with TBI can be a difficult and frustrating experience as cognitive and memory functions come and go, making progress hard to chart. It can be a lonely experience as well.

That’s why the theme for the 2015-17 BIAA campaign is “Not Alone” (#NotAloneinBrainInjury). The organization’s goal is to remove the stigma associated with brain injury through a combination of community outreach and education.