Contemporary social welfare issues and policy challenges

Sociology

Medicare Reform

In a February 22, 2008, article on Medicare reform in the Washington Times newspaper, writer Jeb Hensarling discusses the impending Medicare funding shortfall, and how Congress is attempting to deal with the issue. Medicare is the social welfare program that ensures health care and prescription drug coverage for older and disabled Americans, and just like Social Security, it is showing signs of becoming insolvent in the next decade or so.

In summary, the article discusses the current underfunding of Social Security and Medicare, and how important it is to reform these programs as quickly as possible. It discusses the solutions of the White House budget proposals and other answers, such as medical liability reform that would curb the amount of monies available in these types of suits and save health care providers' money in costs, which would supposedly trickle down to consumers. The article also maintains it is time to start reform measures now, before millions of Americans are left without insurance they need when they need it the most.

This article was a wealth of factual information, from the amount of unfunded obligations ($74 trillion) to the amount that deficit will continue to grow as long as some type of reform is not established ($2 trillion each year). It was also interesting to see some of the reforms that are being discussed to help lower costs and that if something is not done now, Americans under the age of 54 probably won't have Medicare when they are ready to retire.