subject: Learning More About The Extent Of Health Insurance [print this page] In general people have a very limited understanding of Medicaid and Medicare and assume that both of these government insurance plans are designed to help those who need health insurance coverage in this country. While these systems are in place to help insure some of those people that fall through the cracks they really don't do enough to cover all of the uninsured in America.
Medicare is nothing more than health insurance for the elderly. It is a form of insurance that tax dollars pay for to insure those who are 65 and older. While at first this insurance seemed to cover most of their basic health care needs the fund began to deplete and cut benefits to the older generation. Now there are currently supplemental parts that are purchased by the elderly out of their Social Security to get the additional coverage they need. Over the long term you will probably see more and more of the financial burden of this plan being deflected to the elderly.
Medicare does cover some people under the age of 65 but they are usually only those that are disabled or handicapped in some way. These are the only reasons that a person under the age of 65 will have Medicare coverage.
Medicaid is supposed to be insurance for the unemployed and low income groups. However, this insurance really only covers two select categories of low income people, those who are under the age of 18 and those that are pregnant. Adults are essentially not covered under the current Medicaid program and therefore a mother can only maintain Medicaid for a short period of time following the birth of a child. Adult males currently receive no benefits under this plan.
While it may seem that the government is taking care of those in need the effects of both of these plans is minimal as compared to the number of people who are uninsured in the United States. It is important to realize that government insurance is really doing very little for those who are truly in need in this society.
by: Ethan Kalvin
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