Investing in healthcare: Could you profit from 'Obamacare' in the US? Officially called the Affordable Care Act, Obamacare requires that all Americans have health insurance either through a private firm or the state assistance scheme called Medicaid. Those who do not have insurance may have to pay taxes. In addition, new rules should ensure many of the 44 million unable to get health insurance in America now qualify for affordable cover. For instance, before the law was passed, customers could be denied coverage or treatment if they had pre-existing conditions, or their cover might be dropped mid-treatment due to a mistake on an application form, with few avenues to fight the industry. Of course, the potential for private companies to profit could all be priced into the value of shares. But Hugh Grieves, a fund manager of Miton US Opportunities, said there could be immediate benefits for some firms as the more people enrol into insurance policies. He said: "There is a significant part of the [US] population which have had an unmet medical need for some period of time which historically they have not been able to get treatment for but now they can. This pent up demand will provide a near term boost for companies which provide certain medical products. There are longer-term implications, too. For instance, most US bankruptcies caused by medical bills - the figure was on track to hit two million Americans, in 2013 according to CNBC. Darius McDermott, director of fund broker Chelsea Financial Services, recommends Polar Capital Global Healthcare Growth & Income Trust, AXA Framlington Health, AXA Framlington American Growth and Miton US Opportunities as funds that should benefit from Obamacare. He said these funds will pick out technology firms that will provide cost-saving products to medical companies, such as the ability to make appointments over the internet. He said: "The health care sector has been trading sideways for more than a decade now and only finally broke through its range last year. I think the sector generally holds some exciting opportunities and in the US Obamacare will be an extra catalyst. Efficiency will be key to who wins and who loses as there will be more people wanting health care but with that demand, more costs. Technological advances could help that efficiency in all parts of the sector, and the US is home to technology companies and innovation so it is the right place to find these efficiencies. Dan Harlow, manager of the Axa Framlington American Growth fund, said a number of health care firms should see earnings rise over the next two to three years, depending on the pace of new enrolments. He said certain sectors will benefit more than others. For instance, hospitals, where a reduction in uninsured patients will reduce bad debt levels, and drugmakers and distributors, which should see increased prescriptions. Mr Grieves said he holds shares in a company called Mednax, which operates specialised neonatal units within hospitals. "With its centralised management/procurement/training etc, the company can run these small units more efficiently than smaller hospitals can do themselves," he said. He also holds Zimmer, which is a leader in replacement hips and knees, and LDR Holdings which supplies spinal treatments. He warned that losers from the reforms will be doctors and diagnostics companies, where "one of the biggest inefficiencies and source profits in the system" was over-testing. While doctors and hospitals were paid extra for every individual test run under Obamacare payment is based on whether treatment is needed. Put your investment question to our experts: moneyexpert@telegraph.co.uk