Summary: The Evolution Of Medicare

Since its establishment in 1965 we have seen Medicare change as people’s needs change however being a federal program these changes do have an incredible amount of lag time. One of the first major changes to Medicare occurred in 1972 when President Nixon signed the Social Security Amendments of 1972 which extended coverage to individuals under age 65 with long-term disabilities, expanded benefits to include some chiropractic services and speech and physical therapy. During this time we see the American public growing tired of the Vietnam Conflict and lack of support and care for those returning Marines and soldiers with severe disabilities. As the protests escalate and the peace initiatives fail a key piece of legislation is signed showing government support and a willingness to extend health care benefits to this growing and vocal population of veterans (The Vietnam War, 1999). Also included in this Amendment is the encouragement of the use of Health Maintenance Organizations, President Nixon’s administration caught in the scandal of Watergate and pending hearings appeased the left and proposed the HMO Act, which Congress passed in 1973 (Phillips, 2003).

The Social Security Act of 1965 established Medicare and Medicaid which are health insurance programs for the poor and elderly people of the United States. It is funded by a tax on the earnings of employees and contributions by the employers. “It is now broadly apparent that those who opposed Social Security in 1935 and Medicare in 1965 were wrong in their fears…” (Nicholas Kristof  “The Wrong Side of History”).

The Medicare and Medicaid programs were signed into law on July 30, 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson ("Centers for Medicare," 2012). Before this decision was even taken into consideration, many other healthcare reforms had previously been introduced by earlier presidents, but failed to pass the Senate. Healthcare issues have always been on board for the United States, but during this time the elderly and the poor were desperately screaming for help. The government had no choice but to come up with a solution to their healthcare needs; these two

Suitable health care would not be possible for the elderly population in America without the assistance of Medicare Part A. Medicare did not come about easily. Currently Medicare spending is more than what is being collected, questioning future solvency. There are many challenges with sustaining Medicare into the future. Medicare’s past struggles, present outcomes, and future challenges confirm that a national health plan is ever evolving to meet the needs of the current population and spending inflation.

I have to include this for the sake of completeness. Most people know what Medicare is because they have been paying into it for years. This is something you will qualify for when you turn 65. The main thing to be said about Medicare is that it is the best deal for senior around, so you need to sign up for it as soon as you become eligible. Also, during the enrollment period, you need to consider buying a supplemental insurance policy. Medicare only pays approximately 80% of your medical bills. A good supplemental policy will help pay much of the rest of the bill. If you are too poor to buy a supplemental policy, you may qualify for Medicaid. If you are currently enrolled in Medicare, it is possible to use Medicaid as supplemental

Medicare changed overtime and in 1983 adopted the Prospective Payment Plan. PPS was designed to pay a facility a lump some to provide services for a set amount of patients covered by Medicare. One of the reasons behind it was to encourage health care practitioners to proved services in a timely manner in order to shorten the rehabilitation time of an individual.

The timeline of U.S. healthcare history began with Early American medicine with Native Americans and common folk practices performed by settlers. Practices included herbal remedies, procedures such as “bleeding, blistering, and purging (Batnitzky, Hayes, & Vinall, (2014). Practices were based on theory and environmental contributors rather than diagnosis of treatment. The First Marine Hospital fund was signed into law in 1789,creating the beginning of organized medicine and facilities. The First Marine Hospital fund ensured military members and individuals with federal eligibility were provided medical treatment and preventive care. Funds in maintaining treatment facilities was acquired though payroll deductions. This treatment was provided at various hospitals and facilities. Through growth and expansion, treatment facilities were operated and maintained by military operations. In 1847, the American Medical Association (AMA) was founded by Dr. Nathan Davis. Standards and guidelines were determined for the education requirements for medical professionals, drug manufacturing, preventing disease, sanitation, and in providing higher standards of treatment and care (American Medical Association [AMA], 2015). In 1872, the American Public Health Association [APA] was formed in promoting prevention of communicable diseases. This was the next major breakthrough in reducing diseases such as smallpox, whooping cough, and other common diseases that highly spread. As advances in

Person eligible for Medicare include individuals ages sixty-five and over, those with disabilities, and those with end-stage renal disease (Hammaker, 2011). here are three basic entitlement categories: persons 65 years of age or over who are eligible for retirement under Social Security or the railroad retirement system, persons under 65 years of age who have been entitled for at least 2 years to disability benefits under Social Security or the railroad retirement system, and persons with ESRD who do not otherwise meet the age or disability requirements. The latter two groups together are known as the "under 65" enrollees (Petrie, 1992).

First, I would like to start off with Medicare. President Johnson signed the Title XVIII of the Social Security Act, known as Medicare, into a law on July 30, 1965 with full coverage in the beginning of 1966. To qualify for Medicare you have to be 65 and older, people who are under the age of 65 with certain disabilities, and people of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease,

Comparison and Contrast of Medicare and Medicaid On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed amendments to the Social Security Act creating two government-run programs: Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare and Medicaid were created in the hopes of insuring individuals that aren’t eligible for private insurance. Additionally, it was established to accommodate personal and medical needs of individuals that cannot afford other insurances. Considering their names are extremely similar, many people assume they are the same programs when in actuality, they are completely different. (Although, there are some similarities between them).

Managed care and its competition is being viewed to solve their issue on the struggle to control

Medicare is another section that will feel some relieve from practices brought from the Act. As mentioned before, the cost of health care is expensive, therefore making it difficult for those under the Medicare plan to seek preventive services. Before moving forward on the effects of the Act on Medicare, one must first explain some of the benefits of Medicare. Medicare is the nation’s largest health insurance program, it serves more than forty-two million enrollees, and it was originally established to provide access to health services for the elderly (Carroll, 2009). One can grasp the idea that the nation, along with its government, has made constant efforts to support the health of all Americans. This especially true for the ever growing

Medicare has changed the healthcare industry considerably and is one of the largest health programs in the world. With its spending of $260 billion a year, it only accounts for 17% of health expenditures. Even though Medicare has led to better care there is also the need for continuous re-evaluation. Since its introduction in July 1965, and with a ten-year study, the impact on elderly mortality was tremendous. When first signed into law, it only included hospital care and doctor services. Even though our elderly were finally getting the insurance they needed, they still had to pay for their medications in full which contradicted with the care they required.

Healthcare industry in United States has been an important industry for a long time. It is one such industry that has representation from both public sector and private sector. The current health care system is segregated and fragmented in America. Some states have very effective and efficient healthcare system while some states lack the desired infrastructure. The evolution of healthcare system in USA can be traced back to 1750. The period from 1750 to 1849 is termed as preindustrial period where the care of sick people was primarily handled by families (Brian, 2010). The period of 1850 to 1969 is termed as postindustrial period which reflects the growth of organized medicine and systematic healthcare delivery.

During the early stages of our adulthood, we often hear about Medicare and Social Security, but sometimes it doesn 't resonate how important those factors play in our future. Since 1966, Medicare has been providing health insurance to both the old and young while taking money from those who are able to work and provide for themselves. Meanwhile, Social Security is in charge of giving money to those who are old, disabled, widowed, and have low income through taxing citizens. Both of these federal government run programs play a key role in redistributing wealth throughout the country. They are put in place to assure citizens, 65 and older, with disabilities, and fall under the bottom tier of the class system, are cared for and given