Assignment 2: Understanding Medicare Coverage

What is Medicare and Medicaid? Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 years or older. Medicare can also be used by Younger people who have disabilities. Medicaid is a jointly funded health insurance program for low-income and needy people. 64 million people are covered by Medicaid.

If you are 65 or older, you may have many questions about Medicare and Medicare supplements. With so many choices on the market, it can become quite confusing as to what coverages you have available through your basic Medicare and what supplemental plans offer.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people with certain disabilities, end stage renal disease, and for those who are over the age of 65. There are four different parts to Medicare, part A, part B, part C, and part D. Medicare Part A, also known as hospital insurance, covers inpatient hospital stays, care in nursing facilities, hospice care, and some in home health care. Part B is often referred to as medical insurance; it covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventative care services. Medicare Part C, otherwise known as Medicare advantage plan is offered by a private

Medicare Part B is medical insurance. Part B insurance covers different medical needs than what is covered in Part A. With Part B coverage, a beneficiary will be covered for doctor visits, blood tests, x-rays, diabetic supplies and screenings, and out patient care. Part B has a monthly premium that varies for each person. This is where Medicaid comes in for lower income beneficiaries, if a beneficiary has a higher income the fee for Part B can be higher. Each person is responsible for a small deductible each year before Part B starts to be used and then

Compare and contrast Medicare and Medicaid; including funding sources, fraud and/or abuse, and eligibility requirements for recipients

More than likely, medicare covers most, if not all, of your expenses, if they are administered through a hospital or approved medical provider.

Medicare is one of the most widely acknowledged sources of health insurance coverage in the United States. It is often complemented by Medicaid, a similar health welfare program that includes children and the poor. Many Medicare beneficiaries are "dual eligibles" who use Medicaid to extend comprehensive inpatient and outpatient health care coverage, especially for prescription drugs, diagnostic and preventive care, and eyeglasses which fall outside of Medicare. Medicaid can also supplement Medicare deductibles, premiums, and up to 20% of uncovered charges (Goodman, 1991).

Medicare Part C is Medicare Advantage Plan. This a Medicare health plans that is offered by a private company. It contracts with Medicare and provides all the benefits of Part A and B. Medicare Advantage Plans include: Health Manteca Organizations, Preferred Provider Organizations, Private Fee for Service Plans, Special Needs Plans, and Medicare medical Savings Account Plans. Most plans offer prescription drug coverage

Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage Plans, allow individuals to supplement or customize a plan that aligns with their personal medical needs. “These plans enlist private insurance companies to provide some of the coverage, but details vary based on the program and eligibility of the patient.  Some Advantage Plans team up with health maintenance organizations (HMOs) or preferred provider organizations (PPOs) to provide preventive health care or specialist services.  Others focus on patients with special needs such as diabetes” (Medical News Today, 2013).

Medicare is an insurance program. Medicare is a federal program. Medicare consists of four different parts, which include Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D. Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps

The Medicare offers three types of insurance coverage. Medicare part A hospital insurance covers inpatient care in hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. It also helps cover hospice care and some home health care. This coverage does not cover custodial or long-term care (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 2013). Medicare also offers part B Medical insurance that covers preventative care and outpatient care. Prescription drug

Medicare and Medicaid are two of the United States largest broken systems, which must sustain themselves in order to provide care to their beneficiaries. Both Medicare and Medicaid are funding by a joint effort between the federal government and the local state government. If and when these governments choose to cut funding or reduce spending, Medicare and Medicaid take the biggest hit. Most people see these two benefits as one in the same, two benefits the government takes out of their pay check to help fund health care. While the government does deduct a sum from paychecks everywhere, Medicare and Medicaid are very two very different programs.

Medicare and Medicaid are programs that have been developed to assist Americans in attainment of quality health care. Both programs were established in 1965 and are federally supported to provide health care coverage to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, the disabled, and people with low incomes. Both Medicare and Medicaid are federally mandated and determine coverage under each program; both are run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a federal agency ("What is Medicare? What is Medicaid?” 2008).

Medicare Advantage Plans, an alternative to traditional Medicare, are operated by companies that contract with the federal government to provide all of the same services that people would normally receive from Medicare's Part A and Part B. Participants still pay their Medicare premiums, however, they may have be subject to different rules regarding care, which may include higher co-pays or additional services not covered by Medicare.

Medicare Part D is the prescription drug plan. There are various options under this portion of Medicare and depending on the one that your mother has chosen would base the amount of coverage that she would receive for prescription medications. This does not necessarily cover the full cost of the prescription medications; there are deductibles and copayments that must be met.