Medicare

Medicare

Medicare is a federally funded health care program administered by the United States government. Medicare was a spin off from the desire to have a national health care plan. The Social Security Act of 1965 was signed into law on July 30, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson as an amendment to Social Security Legislation providing affordable health care option to residents 65 and older. Johnson belief was that it was the government’s duty to provide medical to its elderly residents. Providing coverage for approximately 43 million individuals in the United States, Medicare is America’s leading health care insurance program.

The Medicare program originally consisted of two parts Part A and Part B. The program was expanded to include two additional types of policies known as Part C and part D Medicare called hospital insurance. Hospital expenses such as diagnostic test, doctor’s fees, inpatient stays and meals Part A covers. Expenses such as outpatient surgery, medical equipment, and primary care the Part B plan offer standard medical coverage. The Part C plan allows users to choose between HMO or PPO plan to customize an insurance policy that fit their needs. Part D is for prescriptions which uses private insurance companies to help recipients pay for their medications.

To be eligible to receive Medicare benefits, an individual must have lived in the United States for five continuous year and be a permanent resident of the country. Qualified recipients must be at least 65 years old or have a permanent disability. An individual must be entitled to receive Social Security benefits and must have received those benefits for a least two years to be considered permanently disabled. Any person suffering from end-stage kidney disease who requires dialysis or a kidney transplant is also eligible for Medicare benefits.

Individuals must apply through their local Social Security office to receive any type of Medicare benefits. If an...