preview

Medicare : A Form Of Social Insurance

Decent Essays

Background on Medicare
Medicare is a form of social insurance. It provides several types of health insurance to its beneficiaries. The large majority of those who benefit from medicare are people who are 65 years old or older. There are some exceptions to this for people under the age requirement but have certain disabilities or diseases. Medicare is made up of four parts: A, B, C, and D.
Medicare part A is Hospital Insurance. This means that it covers the costs associated with a hospital visit, such as a room and food (https://www.medicare.gov). Medicare part A is funded by a 2.9% tax split evenly between workers and employers.
Medicare part B is Medical Insurance. It covers medical costs such as regular doctor’s visits, flu shots, and x-rays. It also helps pay for goods like canes, walkers, and wheelchairs (https://www.medicare.gov). Both parts B and D are funded by premiums on the beneficiaries of these parts. High-income individuals also pay an additional tax on their Medicare part B and D premiums.
Medicare part D covers prescription drugs (https://www.medicare.gov). Those who are eligible for parts A or B are eligible for Medicare part D. Medicare part D, unlike parts A and B, does not have standardized coverage. Instead, different plans can choose which drugs they will pay for, but all Medicare part D plans are regulated on what they can and cannot cover.
Medicare part C, also called Medicare Advantage, offers an alternative to Medicare parts A, B, and D (“Medicare

Get Access