ABOUT THIS SERIES

The sweeping health care bill signed by President Obama in March -- the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act -- is the biggest overhaul of American health care in decades. It will expand insurance coverage by 30 million people, tighten consumer regulations, update Medicare and eventually require almost everyone to obtain health insurance -- but it will be phased in gradually between now and 2014.

"Health Care/The New Landscape" is an occasional series by Star Tribune reporters describing the new law as it takes effect.