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Wednesday, May 6, 2009

The Difference Between Medicaid And Medicare

By Don Bethune

Some similarities exist between Medicaid and Medicare. Both programs provide forms of health insurance backed by the United States federal government. But, as this article will explain, that is about as far as the similarities between the two programs go.

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 is another government-run insurance program, which is administered by each state and county under varying rules and guidelines. It is a social service program intended to insure lower income Americans. These may include single parent households, homeless people, lower income workers, and immigrants both legal or illegal. Medicare provides free care to the beneficiary, and nothing is owed to the government.

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 an important entitlement program it could stand to benefit from a limited overhaul, especially in how it is administered. The changes could perhaps arrive in the form of lowered co payments or perhaps a rebate 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.

In order for any change to be done we the people all have to come together for there is strength in numbers. Perhaps then our voices will be heard and we can make a change. Maybe not call it a change, but an improvement.

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