Medicaid and Medicare have a few things in common. They both are forms of an insurance program as well as both are run by the United States government. As you will see that is where the similarities end for those two.
Medicare is for people that are sixty five years of age or older. Medicaid also has younger patients and that is because they are either disabled or on dyalisis. Run by our government, Medicaid is funded by those who have been able to pay into the program. Those that are covered by Medicaid also pay a portion of their Dr’s visits, hospital stays as well as having a deductible to meet.
Medicare, another insurance program guaranteed by the federal government, is administered at the state and county level. As a result, its rules and guidelines can vary greatly by state. It is a social service program intended for lower income earners going through hard times. Beneficiaries may be single parents, homeless people, lower income workers, and immigrants both legal or illegal. Medicare provides free care to these kinds of people, and they owe nothing in return.
I feel Medicaid is a good program mainly because the people that are recieving medicaid have paid into the pot. Therefore in a way earning their stance for coverage. Now Medicare i feel is a program that alot of people know how to use the system. Which I feel is unfair and misused by many. I feel that only citizens of the United States should recieve medicare assistance. How can it be fair that an illegal person can come over here and get the same benefits as myself.
What is the benefit of citizenship? In fact a decent number of struggling citizens are ineligible while a person who enters illegally is eligible for Medicare and other programs. While Medicaid has good intentions it, like many things, should be overhauled and modified in minor ways.
While Medicaid is a great program that like most things could use a makeover, nothing too drastic though. Perhaps something like lower co payments or possibly a rebate of some sort in the form of a check or gift card.
On the other hand, Medicare requires a much greater number of changes and restrictions on who should be eligible for its benefits. Imagine the billions in savings of taxpayers’ dollars if the program was realigned to focus on helping the most desperate cases.
Progress requires that we as a country come together in unity and speak with one voice. Perhaps then our voices will be heard and there can be lasting change for a better community. That would be a real improvement, if not simple change.