Political Issues: Medicare & Medicaid

Summary

Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over, or who meet other special criteria. The program also funds residency training programs for the vast majority of physicians in the United States. Medicare operates as a single-payer health care system. The Social Security Act of 1965 was signed into law on July 30, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson as amendments to Social Security legislation. At the bill-signing ceremony President Johnson enrolled former President Harry S. Truman as the first Medicare beneficiary and presented him with the first Medicare card.

Medicaid is the United States health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means tested program that is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states. Among the groups of people served by Medicaid are certain eligible U.S. citizens and resident aliens, including low-income adults and their children, and people with certain disabilities. Poverty alone does not necessarily qualify an individual for Medicaid. It is estimated that approximately 60 percent of poor Americans are not covered by Medicaid. Medicaid is the largest source of funding for medical and health-related services for people with limited income in the United States. Because of the aging Baby Boomer population, the fastest growing aspect of Medicaid is nursing home coverage.

Important Medicare & Medicaid Related Issues

Medicare & Medicaid – President Barack Obama called for cuts in funding for Medicare and Medicaid, the federal health insurance programs for the …

Medicare & Medicaid – … Federal expenditures on the two programs could rise from 4% of the US economy in 2007 to 18.5% in 2082 — unless systemic changes are made.

External Links to Medicare & Medicaid Issues

Medicare & Medicaid – Medicare and Medicaid can be confusing to many people. Here is a brief overview of both programs.

Medicare & Medcaid – Introduction to Medicaid: Eligibility, Federal Mandates, Hearings and Litigation. Medicare Medicaid. Enacted by Congress 1965 1965 …

References

http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_(United_States) – http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicaid