On July 30th 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed both Medicare and Medicaid into law. Over the years, these two healthcare systems have received a lot of scrutiny and many changes. Some good and some bad and there will likely be more in the future.
Older Americans, as well as poor Americans and disabled Americans all receive some health care from Medicaid and Medicare. This is the major benefit of the two programs. A controversial drug benefit was added on December 8 2003, when President George Bush signed into law the Medicare Modernization Act. The reason it was controversial is that is was unfunded and still is. Many think this is the best we can do, while still others question the value of this act.
There are some things in Medicare and Medicaid that need fixing and it seems none of our elected officials cares much about doing anything. The lack of a provision for extended care is the biggest problem. Most older Americans fear that they will need extended care in a nursing home sooner or later. The astronomical costs of these total care facilities can decimate an entire lifetime of savings in short order. Most people find the cost of private extended care prohibitive and more than they or their children can afford. Along with that, the cost of Part B Medicare is rising each year, usually at a rate higher than the cost of living increase in Social Security.
The recently enacted Affordable Care Act makes some changes to Medicare. Whether or nor you have coverage through Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage Plan, you will still receive your benefits. To list some of the improvements underway, if you have Medicare prescription drug coverage with a coverage gap, prescription drugs will be come more affordable as the gap is reduced over the years.
Doctors and hospitals are now being offered new incentives to improve the quality of care you receive by Medicare. There will be better coordination to ensure that you receive the services you really need after you are discharged from a hospital. Finding the best inpatient rehab hospitals, hospice care programs and long-term hospitals in your area will also be easier through better database management and on-line systems.
Medicare and Medicaid are both better than nothing at all, but sometimes not by much. The drug benefit isn’t all that beneficial to most, and the rising cost of the deductible is forcing some older people to choose between food and medicine. Medicare and Medicaid could use a major overhaul, but don’t hold your breath.
Before you buy anything online, make sure you look over Charles Maddeiux’s comprehensive list of Aging Cures, and he also provides Advice on Aging