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In Canada, a much higher percentage of the population lives in remote areas whereas covered healthcare services are often concentrated in large cities (Reid, 2009).
Medicare Expansion and Mandatory Health Insurance Issues and Concerns
From the perspective of middle and upper middle income families in the U.S., the expansion of Medicare and the mandatory provision of healthcare by employers would be a tremendous benefit. From the employers' perspective, the associated costs could be prohibitive. Mandatory requirements for individuals could be problematic for those at the lower end of the group income spectrum; however, it would be no less fair than the current situation that forces everyone who pays for healthcare to (in effect) subsidize those who choose not to (Kennedy, 2006). In all likelihood, the only way to make mandatory health insurance work would include expanding Medicare, at least to compete...
Naturally, this interferes with their profits, but there is no fundamental right to profit excessively from providing basic healthcare and public agencies could perform the same function as private insurers at approximately a tenth of the cost charged by private insurers (Kennedy, 2006).
Privatized Healthcare with Government Subsidization
Some hybridized version of healthcare that included elements of both privatization and government subsidies (such as through a voucher program) might be the most beneficial to middle and upper middle income families. It would severely reduce the profitability of private health insurance companies, but only because that industry has established an unreasonable and unjustifiable profit margin that has made healthcare unaffordable in the U.S. (Kennedy, 2006).
References
Kennedy, E. (2006). America: Back on Track. Viking: New York.
Reid, T. (2009). The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care. New York: Penguin Group.
Reductions in provider payments are sometimes considered as suitable options for reducing excessive Medicare spending (Medicare Reform Options). Nevertheless, we are deemed to believe that such reductions will also affect the benefits for the elderly, due to decreased spending. However, Medicare programs for elderly are not only based on free pharmaceuticals or free medical care. Several programs target different affections specific to the elderly population. A Medicare test program, for example,
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. As with many government programs, it seems that Medicare is mired in red tape and not enough money to go around. It seems that people my age will
Medicare Health Care Reform The Medicare is an American health program that is administered by the federal government and serves as a health insurance for people aged 65 years and above. The Medicare is also designed for people with disabilities and people diagnosed with the renal disease. (Davis, Cathy, & Stuart, 2013). The Medicare is currently being funded by the premiums, payroll tax, surtax from general revenue. In 2015, over 55
Medicaid offers service regardless of age (Waidmann 1998). The author asserts that raising the age eligibility will simply increase the responsibilities of the Medicaid system (Waidmann 1998).. On the other hand, the article also asserts that an increase in the eligibility age to 67 will only make a small difference in Medicare savings. The article explains that it would only add one year to the life of hospital insurance
Unlike Medicare, Medicaid is not a purely federally-funded program. Every state has a Medicaid budget, which the federal government 'matches' based upon a formula, despite the fact that Medicaid is considered an entitlement, implying that enrollees are entitled to benefits regardless of where they live. Because federal funding is 'matched' that means that states that spend more on Medicaid -- usually wealthier states -- tend to receive more federal funds
In 2003, President Bush expanded Medicare, by subsidizing prescription drug costs under Part D. There are further changes to Medicare and Medicaid in the Affordable Care Act. There were expansions in the number of preventative health care services offered for free (such as colorectal screening), and by closing gaps in prior coverage (HHS, 2012). Berenson (2010) notes that the ACA pays for this expanded coverage by decreasing Medicare spending by