More people are using health savings account programs. Data from the Consumer Driven Healthcare Institute shows that individual and family health savings account programs are gaining momentum.

Between the first and second quarters of this year, individual health savings account and family health savings account programs each increased 4 percent. CDHCI academic advisor board chair Steve Parente says that the rapid growth of such plans is a way for people to save money.

"As healthcare deductibles continue to rise and consumers become increasingly responsible for out-of-pocket healthcare costs, we believe this trend will continue with consumers seeking ways to maximize their pre-tax dollars for use in current and future health-related spending and investment," says Parente.

Health savings accounts have been around since the end of 2003 and help reduce medical costs by allowing people to fund accounts tax-free. Furthermore, funds in such accounts can be used to pay for future healthcare expenses as well. A health savings account can be signed up for at some banks and credit unions in addition to being offered by some employer benefits packages.

Among several provisions of the Affordable Care Act, one new regulation includes the requirement for most Americans to obtain health insurance coverage. Some critics have asserted that in the future, patients can expect longer waits to see health care providers as a result of reform and the growing population.

Retail health clinics have begun to show up at a number of locations across the nation. In some cases, they have helped patients receive care in shorter periods of time without sacrificing quality. Recently, a CVS MinuteClinic expanded operations in Washington, D.C.

"We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the MinuteClinic to Ward 7," says Councilmember Yvette Alexander. "This is one way to meet the growing demand of health services needed in our community."

In addition to searching for affordable health insurance quotes, people may also save money by utilizing retail clinics. Research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that costs were significantly lower in clinics compared to doctor or emergency room visits. Furthermore, the data found that the quality of care was similar regardless of whether a clinic or physician was visited for three conditions tested in the study.

Healthcare reform stands to impact the lives of many Americans. From those who have searched for individual health insurance plans to those who have decided to forgo coverage, major regulations are still set to take effect.

However, even though reform is still in its infancy, the topic is set to be a major factor in the upcoming midterm elections. The Kaiser Health Tracking Poll has found that support for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is waning somewhat.

The poll found that 44 percent of respondents are not in favor of the law, up from 40 percent. The proportion of those who favor the law stands at 42 percent, with the remaining 15 percent of those polled not having an opinion.

Some of the new measures under the Affordable Care Act prohibit health insurance companies from denying children coverage based on medical history and allow adult children to stay on their parent's health insurance plans until age 26.

There are still a number of provisions yet to be implemented. Effective in January, the law will allow for free preventative services for seniors on Medicare and prescription drug discounts.