I must say that I’m very interested in this week’s assignment. I’ve always know that there was a difference in these two programs but I never really took the time to learn about those differences. While both programs are important to the elderly and underprivileged, there are some distinct difference that I will discuss in this essay. In addition, we will take a look at the evolution of Medicare and how it’s frame work has changed over the years to provide care for aging American’s. Furthermore, we will take a look at how the Avoidable Care Act (ACA) initiatives will effect the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Distinguish between Medicare and Medicaid. Medicaid is a Federal/State medical assistance program. It main focus are low
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How has Medicare evolved to accommodate the changing needs of society? Medicaid cost is now and has always been an issue. Since its inception it was designed to take care of the aging, those with chronic illness and disabilities. The program has faced many amendments for providing health care to beneficiaries, while controlling spending. With the rising cost in health care we see an increase in Part A (hospital coverage) and B (doctors visits) deductibles and premiums. With the establishment of part C (advantage choice) and D (prescription coverage) we see added cost increases as well. Just from the little bit of knowledge that I has about these programs before reading the literature provided, I’ve always wondered about benefits availability once I reach the age of eligibility. When first established in 1965, Medicare was meant to be the nations first form of a national health insurance, the first steps in offering health care to everyone (Neuman, Rother, 2015). In 1997 we see the first of many efforts to control cost with the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997, but the many cuts made during this BBA seemed extreme and the BBA of 1999 restored some service that where cut in the BBA of 1997 (Trident, 2016). The basic function of an insurance program is to keep cost to the consumer down, but without an out-of-pocket cap on Medicare growing cost
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).
Many proposals to reorganize Medicare could increase the financial and health risks faced by the vulnerable elderly. Turning Medicare into a premium-support system a voucher set randomly at the value of the second-least-expensive insurance plan could shift costs to elderly households. Increasing the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67 will leave many Americans ages 65 and 66 without insurance. The basic idea of part A Medicare payment is simple. The patient pays a deductible that approximately equal to the cost of the first day in the hospital;
Yes Medicare is supposed to be an insurance program that helps the needy aging population. I personally don’t want to strip seniors of their essential benefits, but it is affecting me and my future; with the inevitable raise of taxes, shrinking defense, and squeezing of other domestic spending- everything from the FBI to college aid (Samuelson, 2011, para.1). Many seniors count on these services but we as a nation need to make changes to help the future retirees. According to Samuelson, Obama said we must "win the future," but our massive federal debt will keep growing because, without restraining spending on retirees, there's no path to a balanced budget” (Samuelson, 2011,para.2). This shows true in Medicaid too, “The social safety net [Medicaid] for the growing ranks of poor Americans would be further strained (Samuelson,2011, para.2). It would also be helpful to screen people better so they don’t abuse this system. If Medicaid would verify assets they can weed out the people who don’t deserve these services. This will cut costs by verifying better eligibility, which in turn will be less wasteful.
Medicaid and Medicare are two different government programs. Both programs were created in 1965 to help older and low-income families be able to have their own health insurance. These programs were part of President Lyndon Johnson’s plan, a commitment to helping meet the needs of individual health care. Medicaid is largest single private health insurance program. Medicare and Medicaid are helpful to those individuals who qualify; they are not available to everyone. I will discuss in this paper the definitions, similarities and differences of Medicare and Medicaid.
Charles, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was intended to correct the historical issues related to cost and access in the health care system in America (Pagel, Bates, Goldmann & Koller, 2017). The ACA was an attempt by the US government to ensure access to health insurance was available for more Americans. The historical role of the government in health care prior to the ACA had been that the government should only have a little involvement in the delivery and reimbursement of services with respect to having a role in policy making for the protection of the public’s health (Williams & Torrens, 2008). The role of government involvement has changed through the Medicare and Medicaid government programs. Today, these programs have the
The quantity of Medicare eligible individuals continues to grow as the median age of the population of the United States rises. The old Medicare system has become outdated and strained because of the volume of individuals that are currently receiving benefits within the program. Since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Medicare has become the main source of delivering healthcare insurance for the elderly of the United States. In order to meet the current requirements of the ACA, Medicare must be reformed in order to provide the promised services for the individuals that are currently receiving benefits and for the future survival of the program.
It has been recognized that ever since its passage into law the Affordable Care Act frequently known as Obamacare has and will continue to attract criticism and scrutiny. This is the America`s major and mainly well-liked social indemnity programs. Despite the fact the Affordable Care Act is a highly multifaceted piece of legislation featuring many regulatory and intergovernmental provisions meant to deal with lack of health insurance coverage affecting a variety of diverse groups, Medicare and social security are much more focused programs providing benefits primarily to the aged. Social security and Medicare were in the beginning implemented more without difficulty and with a little of bipartisan support, because in 1935 and 1965 democrats
Medicare is the Federal government’s largest program and provides health care benefits to individuals that are 65 years old or old (Elmendorf, 2013). This program covers over 50 million Americans, including over 8 million disabled Americans (Raising Medicare's Eligibility Age: A Costly Benefit Cut for Senior, 2014). With the baby-boomer generation coming to the age of Medicare eligibility there is an estimated drastic increase in the number of individuals participating in Medicare for their health insurance (Elmendorf, 2013). With this being said some, including the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), believe that increasing the minimum age of eligibility will save the Federal government money (Meyerson,
Medicare and Medicaid has been providing huge benefits for senior citizens and low income families. The one question nobody seems to answer is how are we going to afford this type of insurance? Maya Rockeymoore argues in her article, “Groundless Fears about Medicaid and Medicare,” that we are able to afford this as long as we make good decisions. Rockeymoore claims that we need to keep Medicare and Medicaid or our country will fall apart.
Over the last 8 years especially, the national spotlight has been focused on government programs, specifically Medicare and Medicaid, whether these opinions be positive or negative. Although many people believe that these governmental acts only include negative aspects, this is in fact wrong, as there are many positives. Medicare, the commonly known health insurance program for people 65 and older, has positively contributed to the American society for the past 50 years. Medicare has helped elders financially , increased the quality of care we give to elders, and provided more jobs throughout its existence.
The concept is built on trade-offs meaning that one aspect cannot be affected without affecting the other two. The most common view of this problem is that each aspect is in direct competition with the others. Analyzing Medicare in relation to The Iron Triangle, consumers who participate in the healthcare system through Medicare must still pay deductibles, fees and other costs not covered by the program. Additionally, enrollees who choose non-hospital coverage or Part B will have to pay a premium. In 1993, up to 11% of Medicare participants were also enrolled in Medicaid programs which pay expenses for the poor who may qualify for the benefits. Approximately 75% of Medicare enrollees have some form of health insurance coverage (Gok & Rubin p.1520). Younger participants don’t seem to fare as well within Medicare since the program focuses predominantly on people 65 and over. Too often, the role that Medicare plays in the younger population with disabilities is overlooked. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey drawn from administrative data provided by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) found that non-elderly disabled beneficiaries reported problems with healthcare access and cost. Opinions have varied on the success and failures of Medicare in relation to overall access and cost. “According to (CMM) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, total healthcare expenditures exceeded $2.1 trillion or more than $7000 for every American man, woman, and child” (Kuttner p.549). Total healthcare spending in 2006 was 16% of the GDP and was projected to reach 20% by 2013. The phenomenon known as “medical inflation” is believed to have contributed to rising costs of healthcare. An aging population, technology advancement, litigation, defensive medicine and insurance coverage that favors high taxes. The most common
President Lyndon B Johnson’s vision for health coverage among elderly continues to provide health for those in need. Prior to 1965, US government didn’t offer health insurance to the elderly or charged high rates that insurance wasn’t affordable. Subsequently, older Americans suffered the consequences of the high healthcare costs. However, Medicare has proved to be significant to a high extent since it benefits America globally, socially, economically, and politically.
Due to the upcoming presidential election, the two major political parties, and their candidates, have been focusing on the primary problems that the nation will face. Chief among those problems is the future of Medicare, the national health-insurance plan. Medicare was enacted in 1965, under the administration of Lyndon B. Johnson, in order to provide health insurance for retired citizens and the disabled (Ryan). The Medicare program covers most people aged 65 or older, as well as handicapped people who enroll in the program, and consists of two health plans: a hospital insurance plan (part A) and a medical insurance plan (part B) (Marmor 22). Before Medicare, many Americans didn't have health
Summary: President Barack Obama spoke at the conference on Aging which presides once every decade. The major topics that he covered was on healthcare and Social Security retirement. The Presidents goal is to protect and make sure that older adults are provided with resources to assist them with programs like “Obama Care”. According to President Obama, “Affordable Care Act expanded life by 13 years of quality care” (White House Conference, 2015). Baby boomers are living longer and healthier due to seniors possessing Medicaid and Medicare. Similarly, speaker, Valarie Jarrett agreed, “Seniors are saving a significant amount of money on prescriptions” (White House
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.