Describe the working of Medicare. What advantages does it provide to the elderly? What are some problems with the services provided by Medicare?
What will be an ideal response?
Medicare was passed as part of the Social Security Amendments of 1965. It is medical insurance for the elderly and disabled who are eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits. Part A which finances through payroll taxes is a hospitalization plan. It provides coverage for some of the costs of hospitalization but does require that the Medicare recipient pay some of the cost as well. Part B of Medicare is a supplementary insurance program covering doctors’ fees and other outpatient services. These expenses are subject to deductibles and copayments. This portion of Medicare is financed by enrollees who pay a monthly premium. Medicare Part D provides for prescription drug coverage. This portion of Medicare uses private insurers to provide coverage. Participants must pay a portion of the cost of the prescription drugs. Medicare is a better program than would be available to most of the elderly under private insurance. It requires not physical examination and it covers preexisting conditions. Medicare is uniformly available throughout the country. It provides some services that might not be available in private plans. However, Medicare does require that the insured pay a significant amount in copayments and deductibles. Further, it does not cover all medical expenses needed by the elderly, such as, eye or dental examinations, eyeglasses, dentures, immunizations, or long-term care. They are gaps in services that affect the health status between the less affluent and more affluent elderly populations.
You might also like to view...
In a scatter plot, the dots cluster along a line from the top left hand corner to the lower right hand corner. This shows
A) A negative correlation. B) No relationship. C) A positive correlation. D) A nonlinear relationship.
What do business interest groups and public-interest groups have in common?
A) They both run candidates in elections B) Neither is required to register as lobbyists C) They both advocate for the same public policies D) They both prefer to interact with the public and with lawmakers E) They both seek to influence public policy.
Which of the following is ?NOT a reason that fewer women than men seek elected office?
A) ?Women are not allowed to run for elected office unless they have completed a graduate degree. B) Women face greater difficulty in raising money to pay campaign expenses. C) ?Women tend to shoulder more responsibilities for home and family than men do. D) ?Women face age-old prejudices.
The ______ formerly called the Food Stamp Program, assists the poor in meeting their needs for food.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).