According to the article “Medicare Made Clear” published by United Health, “the Medicare program helps 43 million Americans get the health care they need.” The large number of Americans being helped by Medicare shows that it is important and very much needed. Being knowledgeable on the topic of Medicare and Medicaid and knowing the different aspects of the programs will be useful for many Americans.
Medicare is a Federal health insurance program which consists of hospital insurance, medical insurance, customizable plans, and prescription drug coverage. Eligibility requirements for Medicare include individuals who are at least 65 years old, disabled individuals who are under the age of 65, and individuals at any age who have End-Stage Renal Disease. End-Stage Renal Disease is defined as permanent kidney failure that requires dialysis or a transplant. To be eligible for Medicare, an individual must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident for five continuous years. Individuals must also be eligible for Social Security benefits with at least ten years of contribution payments. (Crosta)
Medicare Part A is also known as Hospital Insurance. This insurance helps pay for hospital stays, home health care, care in a skilled nursing facility, and certain medical equipment. Also covered under Medicare Part A is a semi-private room; hospital meals; intensive care; drugs, medical supplies, and medical equipment as an inpatient; lab tests, x-rays, and radiation treatment as an inpatient; operating room; and rehabilitation services. Payroll taxes are used to cover Medicare Part A costs; therefore a monthly premium is not paid. Cost sharing, such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurances, may be required. If an individual is eligible for Medi...
... middle of paper ...
...ayments. However, pregnant women, children under 18, and hospital or nursing home patients who contribute most of their income to institutional care are excluded from cost sharing. Also exempt from copayments are emergency services and family planning services. (Costa)
In conclusion, Medicare and Medicaid are available to the elderly, disabled, and low-income individuals or families. They are both supported by the government. Each of them has their own characteristics, but their similarity is that they are in place to offer assistance to people in need.
Works Cited
"Medicare Made Clear." AARP Health Care. United Health. Web. 25 Nov 2013. .
Crosta, Peter. "What Is Medicare/Medicaid?." MNT. N.p.. Web. 25 Nov 2013. .
Medicare is the nation’s largest health insurance program. Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least ten years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years old and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. Medicare-covered services include hospital insurance, inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, home health care, hospice care, and medical insurance (Medicare U.S.) With such an encompassing effect on the health insurance field, Medicare provides a haven for older individuals, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients who require the best medical care for whatever possible reason. The only problem with this scenario is that doctors are turning many older patients away because they have Medicare. Why do doctors turn away Medicare patients? Is there a reason why certain doctors turn away certain patients?
According to Medicare’s WebPage Medicare is a Health Insurance Program for people 65 years of age and older, some disabled people under 65 years of age, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure treated with dialysis or a transplant). Medicare has two parts, Part A which is for basically hospital insurance. Most people do not have to pay for Part A. In addition it has a Part B, which is basically medical insurance. Most people pay a small monthly fee for Part B. Medicare first went into effect in 1966 and was originally administered by the Social Security Administration. In 1977 the control of it was switched over to the newly formed Health Care Financing Administration. Beginning in July 1973 Medicare was extended to persons under the age of 65 with certain disabling conditions. In 1988 Congress passed legislation to expand the program to cover health care costs of catastrophic illnesses.
The United States health care system ranks 37th in the world. Statistically, it’s bizarre how United States is amongst one of the most advanced nations in the world and the fact that it spends more on its healthcare than any other country, yet its standards are incomparable to other European nations. Unlike most countries, America doesn’t have universal coverage for health care. This means that it is the responsibility of an average American to obtain health insurance either through private insurance companies or through their employer. Under this system, there is a notion of a certain premium due at regular intervals of time but the insured may need to “co-pay” or pay a certain deductible for their treatment before their insurance takes care of the rest.
Medicare is a social policy many of our seniors look to for their stability when they reach 65
As many are aware, in most cases, when you turn 65, you qualify to apply for Medicare. In most cases, to qualify for Medicare, you need to be 65 and you or your spouse have worked and paid Medicare and Social Security payroll taxes for at least 10 years (Parker, 2014). Medicare is US’s national health insurance program for the citizens and legal permanent residents. Medicare evolved over years and now has four parts. There are mandatory for all to enroll and others are optional.
In 1965 President Johnson signed both Medicare and Medicaid programs into law (Nile, 2011). According to Medical news today, “Medicare is a social insurance program that serves more than 44 million enrollees as of 2008” (MediLexicon International Ltd, 2011, para2). It cost about $432 billion or 3.2% of GDP, as of 2007(par2).Medicare is broken down into parts, Part A is hospital Insurance Part B is medical Insurance, and Part D is Medicare prescription drug coverage (medicare.gov). Like we previously stated Medicare is a health insurance for people who are 65 and older, people under 65 with certain disabilities, and people of any age with End- Stage Renal Disease. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program of medical assistance for low income persons (Benefit.gov). It is administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) and Illinois Department of Public Aid (IDPA). Medicaid serves about 40 million people as of 2007; it cost $330 billion, or 2.4% of GDP, in 2007.(par.2) “In Illinois you may be eligible for Medicaid if you are a child, pre...
Medicare is health insurance for people age 65 or older, under age 65 with certain disabilities and people of any age with End-Stage Renal Disease. There are four subcategories of Medicare. Part A is for hospital stays or, with certain restrictions, at-home care for a limited number of days. Part B is more like regular medical insurance. It covers ambulatory care and physician fees. There is a deductible and are sometimes co-pays as well. Part C is presented as an alternative to parts A and B. It is where private insurance companies can contract with the federal government to offer Medicare benefits through their own policies. It can offer benefits not covered under original Medicare, although there might be a premium charged. Part D is the prescription plan for enrollees. (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2010)
Medicare was designed as a universal healthcare program for individuals 65 years old and older. This program is funded by Medicare taxes and general federal funding withholding taxes. Medicare is a partnership between federal and state with the goal to provide medical insurance to the elderly that is poor and disabled. Generally all people who are 65 years or older and qualify for social security will automatically qualify for Medicare.
for Medicare, you must meet certain conditions. A person qualifies if they are 65 years of age
Throughout the years, there have been many individuals and families who have not been able to afford healthcare. Some programs have helped to provide for those in need, but they have not provided to all needy citizens. In an effort to provide more people with the healthcare and insurance they truly need, the United States government has developed the Affordable Care Act. The act’s purpose is to expand Medicare, which was originally developed to provide for the elderly and the disabled, to those who are not disabled but are in times of financial hardship. The Affordable Care Act was originally developed to ensure healthcare to all individuals who could not afford it on their own. It would seem that the increase in the number of patients would benefit hospitals, but this act does the opposite of its intended outcome. There are more patients visiting the hospitals, but the act lowers the costs of their medical bills, which in turn decreases the hospitals’ incomes. This decreased source of income causes both the patients and the employees to find new solutions to the increased amount of issues that they now endure.
Medicare was designed for beneficiaries sixty five years and older and enrollees who are permanently disabled and are unable to work. Medicare benefits are applied for at the Social Security office, where proof of eligibility is required. Medicaid however is health care benefits for those who are low income and do not have insurance through their job (Medicare.gov, 2008).
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people, who are age sixty five or older, or people that have End Stage Renal Disease and permanent disabilities. There are four different entities of Medicare to include; Medicare Part A which is the Hospital Benefit that covers inpatient hospital services, hospice treatment, skilled nursing facilities and other home health services. Medicare Part B that covers the Professional component of the physicians' services, preventive services and medical supplies then there is Medicare Part C which is considered a Medicare Advantage Plans that is offered by a private company that has a contract with Medicare to provide the patient with both Part A and Part B benefits. A Medicare Advantage Plans consist of Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), and Private Fee for Special Needs Plans, Service Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans.
Medicare is a federally governed insurance program, primarily serving Americans over the age of 65, younger disabled meeting specific disability criteria, and dialysis patients having permanent kidney failure. Medicare is linked to Social Security, is not income based, and is available to every American meeting the requirements of the program. Those entitled to Medicare can select Original Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) paying co-insurance and deductibles or opt to add Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans) paying a monthly premium and co-payments normally less than the out-of-pocket expenses for Original Medicare.
Medicare is the federal program that provides health coverage for people who are 65 and older (Green, 2003). Although many assume that Medicare provides long-term care, these benefits are very limited and are not efficient enough to accommodate the much needed care services for older adults. For example, Medicare programs do not help to pay for personal care services such as eating, dressing or using the bathroom even though these “activities of daily life” are the most needed services for most seniors (Green, 2003). These care services can be provided to seniors by the long term care insurance program. According to the national survey that was conducted among people who are 55 and older, just 36% believed that they would need long term insurance (Carter, 2008). However, it's estimated that at least 60% of people over age of 65 will require some long-term care services at...
Medicare is a national social insurance program, run by the U.S. federal government since 1966 that promises health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older and younger people with disabilities. Being the nation’s single largest health insurance program, covering a large population for a wide range of health services, Medicare's funding is a fundamental part of it sustainability. Medicare is comprised of several different parts, serving different purposes, some of which require separate funding. In general, people at the age of 65 and older who have been legal residents of the United States for at least 5 years are eligible for Medicare. Same is true with people that have disabilities under 65, if they receive Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Medicare involves four parts: Part A is hospital insurance. Part B is additional medical insurance, that Part A doesn't cover. Part C health plans, also mostly known as Medicare Advantage, are another way for original Medicare beneficiaries to receive their Part A, B and D benefits. Medicare Part D covers many prescription drugs, some of which are covered by Part B. Medicare is a major operation, not only needing adequate administering but the necessary allocated funds to keep this massive system afloat.