I now have had several months experience with Seguro Popular and a much broader perspective.

The idea that it's Mexico's answer to Universal healthcare is very definitely false.
1)  It's totally voluntary.
2)  It's not financed by a special tax, funding comes from the federal government's plus premiums paid by the top 20% of wage earners.
3)  Since that top 20% is covered by Social Security, Company health plans or Private Insurance, it's pretty much an exclusive club for the bottom 80% and only that part of the bottom 80% that aren't covered by Social Security or a company plan.

There are severe limits on the level of care Seguro Popular can offer even though a treatment, procedure or test is authorized.  Only certain generic medications are available and only if the local health center's allotment hasn't run out.  The reagents for some very common blood tests may not have been ordered because federal appropriations haven't been approved yet.  You may have to schedule routine tests 3 to 6 months ahead of time because there aren't enough specialists to go around.  You may have to travel hundreds of miles for certain treatments because there aren't any suitable facilities in you local area.

Is the a harbinger of things to come under Obamacare?  I already see healthcare providers making provisions to conserve income and protect themselves as much as possible from the direct demands of Obamacare, 

A recent AARP Bulletin had an article warning working age people to put aside lots of money for future medical care.  Having been insiders to the original Obamacare deal, should you be on the lookout for failures in the "promise" of Obamacare?