Cuepacs Competitive Analysis

Medicare has had many legislative changes to modernize the program since it was first signed into law. Medicare has assisted many retirees from a financial disaster by providing benefits during a healthcare crisis. The prescription drug program has ensured seniors have access to the medications they require. Medicare has also provided care to the disabled that are under age 65. This national social healthcare program has also come under fire politically because of the extremely high cost of the program.

These services are great for elderly people to get out and enjoy themselves, interact and gather with friends. Many elderly people do not go anywhere due to lack of transport or people to go with, so this will help the elderly people have days out and have events to look forward to.

On July 30, 1965, Medicare was signed into law by then President Lyndon B. Johnson. The President declared “No longer will older Americans be denied the healing miracle of modern medicine (Johnson, 1965). The Medicare act was implemented to provide the older population of U.S. citizens and those with disabilities and end-stage renal disease with financial security, coverage, and access to healthcare. It’s a federal program that most families will eventually rely on. “As the single largest purchaser of medical services in the United States, Medicare is an important source of income for hospitals, physicians, home health agencies, and other medical care providers” (Oberlander p. 119).

Hopefully we will all be physically able to work until the age of 65, collect retirement and Social Security and live an enriching life until we leave this world. Not all companies financially support their employees with fully funded retirement plans so it is left up to the individual to actively participate in saving for their future. When someone reaches retirement age, if the finances are there, they are usually only a fraction of what they were making as a full-time employee. This is when one hopes of having Social Security and Medicare benefits to supplement our retirement income for a more stable financial future.

AdvancePCS, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, BlueCross BlueShield Association, California Healthcare Association, CIGNA, Missouri Hospital Association and Mutual of Omaha, also influenced the development of the legislation. Their role was to ensure Medicare modernization and competitiveness (Committee on Ways and Means, 2003).

Medicare constitutes a federal health program of the U.S government that is intended to subsidies to individuals who are eligible for the following criteria (Medicare, 2014). Individuals above 65 years with permanent U.S. citizenship or legal residency for five years. Individuals with a disability who has gathered a two year Social Security. Individuals with kidney failure currently receiving dialysis or who requires a kidney transplant. As well as those who are suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease (Medicare, 2014).

Medicaid is a cooperative program administered by federal and provincial government that insures individuals with chronic illness or disabilities who could not have had the means to obtain insurance elsewhere. However, Medicaid’s ability to run efficiently has started to be questioned due to growing budget pressure. This program is need of improvement, so it can benefit both the people and the country. Medicare faces its challenges too, as the population of elderly grows, so does the cost of the program. The coverage of Medicare is also questionable. The government covers about 60% of the medical expenses under Medicare, however 15% of Medicare recipients are so indigent that they would be entitled to Medicaid. Money is also the problem for

Medicare gives medical access to many people who would not have it otherwise. Medicare is the government’s first program associated with public health insurance. Since then the U.S. has seen Medicaid and now recently the Affordable Care Act. Essentially, these are government programs designed to ensure care for citizens. These programs expand health care. As more people are able to have health coverage, more health care services become needed. While these programs provide protection they also stimulate growth within the medical field.

Medicare represents a social insurance initiative with uniform, national rules. It is administered by federal officials and a number of insurance companies employed to manage particular tasks (e.g. part C & part D of the Medicare).

It has come to my attention that not everyone is aware of Medicare and its advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, I would like to educate all the healthcare careerists to understand the concept of Medicare. Medicare is a type of insurance for the people of age 65 or older and also for the people with permanent disabilities and diseases. This program was established in 1965 under Title 18f the Social Security Act and was made available to all eligible people as a health insurance regardless of their status or income. According to “A Primer on Medicare”, In 2015 Medicare provided health insurance coverage to 55 million people: 46 million people ages 65 and older and 9 million people with permanent disabilities who are under age

Medicare was established to resolve a human welfare crisis in which endangered to unravel the social and economic aspect of the United States. Medicare was evidence of America’s well-being and control. It was the first developed country to introduce government healthcare.

Australia’s Medicare scheme was created in 1984 with the intention of improving access to healthcare for all Australians by providing all in need of treatment with access to adequate healthcare at little or no cost, regardless of age or income. Medicare was introduced by the Federal Government and is Australia’s publicly funded universal health insurance scheme. (Medicare Australia, 2014) Medicare is managed by the Department of Human Services and allows public patients free medical care at public hospitals and free or subsidized care from doctors, specialists and other health professionals, if they’re partaking, such as optometrists. Those who are eligible for Medicare hold an Australian or New Zealand citizenship, have a permanent visa or have applied for a permanent visa and meet certain requirements. The Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments fund Australia’s public hospitals, which aid greatly in providing accessible care. (Medicare Australia, 2014) Medicare additionally provides the Australian community with many strategies that attempt to address the needs of certain groups such as the Child Dental Benefits Schedule, which provides financial aid for primary dental care for children aged 2-17 who meet the necessary requirements. (Human Services, 2014) Medicare also implemented the Medicare Safety Net, which gives eligible families and individuals financial help for out

Australians over the age of seventy-five are participants in the Medicare Gold Policy meaning they receive a gold colored Medicare Card as part of Labor’s Pledge to give people free hospital services. By having brand new hospitals built is a pleasure for many in which it prevents public hospitals facilities from being clogged up. One of Ms. Gillard team members developed a new and approved policy which played a huge responsibility for elderly people. She expects this new policy to reduce waiting lists and terminate five hundred millions annually unreliable resources. The Labor Plan states that people needing immediate treatment would receive care at the same rate they do now although the plan does not included health fees including dental or physical therapy. Australian’s over the age limit have the option to take out their insurance to help cover certain services they need. Under the current system more than fifteen percent of Australians with health insurance paid a fee out of pocket that includes extra items in their rooms such as personal entertainment systems or their own private hospital rooms. Ms. Gillard proposed that many Australians compete well at going against extra cost but, they would ensure the fee to have those special type of

Medicare was created in 1965 to offer assistance to Americans 65 years of age or older or those who are on Social Security disability. Prior to this, most elderly Americans did not have insurance as it was not available to them or they could not afford it. Today, less than 1% of elderly Americans are without insurance or access to medical treatments. Medicare accounts for 20% of healthcare expenditures, one-eighth of the Federal Budget and more than 3% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.1

The growing concern regarding the financial security of Medicare is one of particular interest to the nearly 72 million baby boomers that become eligible for this government-assisted, and tax-payer bolstered, program over the next two decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2010), there will be a rapid increase in baby-boomers between 2010 and 2030, as the entire baby boomer population move into the 65 years and over category (p.3). Political and financial revisions must be made to ensure the security of Medicare as the numbers of individuals paying into this program are soon to be surpassed by the number of individuals drawing-off this program (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). The elderly are also at a disadvantage with transportation to health care visits, picking up prescriptions, and rehabilitation services. There needs to be an establishment of access not only to primary care providers, hospitals, and rehabilitation services, but access to other aspects of the health care system for the elderly population.