Medicare Breakdown

On July 30, 1965, President Johnson flew to Independence, Missouri to sign the Medicare bill. The new statute included two related insurance programs to finance substantial portions of the hospital and physician expenses incurred by Americans over the age of sixty-five. Public attempts to improve American health standards have typically precipitated bitter debate, even as the issue has shifted from the professional and legal status of physicians to the availability of hospital care and public health programs. In The Politics of Medicare, Marmor helps the reader understand Medicare's origins, and he interprets the history of the program and explores what happened to Medicare politically as it turned from a legislative act in the mid-1960s to a major program of American government in the three decades since. This is a vibrant study of an important piece of legislation that asks and answers several questions: How could the American political system yield a policy that simultaneously appeased anti-governmental biases and used the federal government to provide a major entitlement? How was the American Medical Association legally overcome yet placated enough to participate in the program? And how did the Medicare law emerge so enlarged from earlier proposals that themselves had caused so much controversy?

For some, Medicare is a model of what national health insurance could be in the United States. Despite its low administrative costs and significant contributions to the well-being of America's oldest and most disabled citizens, some critics assail the program as being out of sync with the needs of many senior citizens, while others often refer to it as "unsustainable" because of its high costs. Physicians and hospital administrators endlessly criticize and debate Medicare but rely upon it for a substantial share of their revenues. In Medicare: A Policy Primer, Marilyn Moon explains what Medicare is, how it works, and where it's headed. She examines the problems facing the program and which reform options hold the most promise. She also examines the history of Medicare and how the program works in the broader context of health care, the federal government, and the economy. It is a clear introduction to one of the most critical debates in health policy and an important volume for anyone interested in the future of Medicare.

Medicare For Dummies, 2nd Edition (9781119293392) was previously published as Medicare For Dummies, 2nd Edition (9781119079422). While this version features a new Dummies cover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product. Make your way through the Medicare maze with help from For Dummies America's baby boomers are now turning 65 at the rate of about 10,000 a day. Yet very few have any idea about how Medicare works, when they should sign up, or how the program fits in with other health insurance they may have. Medicare For Dummies, 2nd Edition provides a detailed road map for navigating Medicare's often-baffling complexities and helps consumers avoid pitfalls that could otherwise cost them dearly. In plain language, the new edition explains: How to qualify for Medicare, according to your personal circumstances, including new information on the rights of people in same-sex marriages When to sign up at the time that’s right for you, to avoid lifelong late penalties How to weigh Medicare’s many options so you can be confident of making the decision that's best for you What Medicare covers and what you pay, with up-to-date details of the costs of premiums, deductibles, and copays—and how you may be able to reduce those expenses By conveying not only the basics but also how to troubleshoot problems and where to find assistance, Medicare For Dummies, 2nd Edition helps you to get the most out of Medicare.

Why has medical care become so complicated--and expensive? Not very long ago, an individual would visit a doctor to be treated for an illness that could not be "cured" by one of Grandma's "recipes." Whether it was a sore throat, earache, or digestive pain, Grandma usually had some homespun "medicine" to deal with a common health issue. And if Grandma's "medicine chest" was not able to deal with a family member's illness, a neighborhood doctor was usually available to treat working families at his office, or he would make a house call for a reasonable fee. Fast-forward to today. Is the current system of providing medical care, namely, through employer-based insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare, the optimal methods to provide high-quality, low-cost care to all Americans? The answer is a resounding no. Universal Medical Care from Conception to End of Life: The Case for a Single-Payer System explains why the current system of employer-based insurance and government programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Obamacare are financially untenable and yields less than optimal outcomes for patients. Yet there are calls for more top-down approaches to medical care, most notably by Senator Bernie Sanders, who has campaigned for the presidency on a Medicare for All program, essentially putting all Americans under one medical umbrella, where the government would set all the parameters for medical care. Under the individual single-payer system outlined in Sabrin's manifesto, every American adult would be in charge of his or her medical coverage. There would be no more conflicts regarding insurance companies or the government paying for abortion, contraception, and other controversial medical procedures and medications. In a free market, every adult--the single payer--would pay for what he/she needs to achieve optimal health.

The Canadian health care system is so indisputably tied to our national identity that its founder, Tommy Douglas, was voted the greatest Canadian of all time in a CBC television contest. However, very little has been written to date on how Medicare as we know it was developed and implemented. This collection fills a serious gap in the existing literature by providing a comprehensive policy history of Medicare in Canada. Making Medicare features explorations of the experiments that predated the federal government’s decision to implement the Saskatchewan health care model, from Newfoundland’s cottage hospital system to Bennettcare in British Columbia. It also includes essays by key individuals (including health practitioners and two premiers) who played a role in the implementation of Medicare and the landmark Royal Commission on Health Services. Along with political scientists, policy specialists, medical historians, and health practitioners, this collection will appeal to anyone interested in the history and legacy of one of Canada’s most visible and centrally important institutions.

Confused about Medicare’s drug coverage? You’re not alone. Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage For Dummies explains Part D in plain English and shows you how to find the best deal among numerous drug-coverage plan options. Whether you’re new to Medicare or already in the program, you’ll navigate the system with more ease and confidence, avoid pitfalls and scams, and have plenty of help choosing the plan that’s right for you. This easy-to-understand, consumer-friendly guide helps you find out whether Part D affects any drug coverage you already have and weigh the consequences of going without coverage. You’ll find ways to compare plans, identify the one that covers your drugs at the least cost, and make sure you sign up at the right time. And you’ll learn how to minimize your expenses, use the “right” pharmacies, and troubleshoot any problems with your coverage. Discover how to: Decide whether you need Part D Understand how Part D works, from costs to coverage Choose and enroll in the best plan for you Get up and running with Part D Handle the coverage gap Lower your drug costs Join and switch plans Comply with long-term-care rules and rights Challenge plan decisions Avoid scams and hard-sell marketing Now, more than ever, you need clear, reliable information that helps you understand Part D and make smart, cost-saving healthcare decisions. You need Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage For Dummies.

Medicare can be a nightmare to understand. I've helped over 5,000 Baby Boomers navigate this journey and I hope this book can help you too!

The critics are saying: "Don't make decisions about your Medicare coverage without reading this book!" #1 Best Selling Book in Less than 48-Hours After Reading This Book, You Will: ⚠ Know what Medicare pitfalls exist and how to expertly avoid them ⚠ Be ready to make the major Medicare decisions ⚠ Be knowledgeable on the costly penalties and how to steer clear Who This Book is For: ✓ New to Medicare - This book will help anyone approaching Medicare eligibility at age 65 who needs to learn the basics and is afraid of making a mistake that will result in penalties or inadequate healthcare coverage ✓ Retiring after 65 - Perhaps you have worked past age 65 and maintained employer coverage but now you are retiring and want to successfully transition from group health insurance cover to Medicare as your primary coverage. This book will show you the exact steps to take while also sidestepping unexpected (and often undeserved) late enrollment penalties. ✓ Beneficiaries Facing Indecision - Get this book if It's time for you to make a choice between a Medigap plan (Medicare supplement) and Medicare Advantage but you find yourself torn and aren't sure which route would be a better fit for you. ✓ Confused by Election Periods - Are all the various Medicare election periods making your head spin? This book carefully explains what changes and plan selections you can make during the various election periods and more importantly, what those election periods WON'T give you that you probably expect. ✓ Adult Children and Caregivers - If you find yourself in a situation where you need to help your parents make Medicare coverage decisions but have no idea how Medicare works, this book will be immensely helpful to you. Every year thousands of seniors make big mistakes during their Medicare enrollment that can result in expensive penalties and untold hours of hassle and headaches. While some of these mistakes are fixable, others can affect you for the rest of your life. In 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes, Medicare expert Danielle K. Roberts exposes the most common pitfalls that new to Medicare beneficiaries unwittingly make and shares how to expertly avoid them. As a Medicare expert and co-founder at Boomer Benefits, Danielle has spent the last 15 years helping thousands of Medicare beneficiaries learn how to navigate their entry into Medicare. Her goal has always been to make the entry into Medicare and enrollment process easier for ordinary Americans. This is no small task as most Americans spend their entire working lives having their healthcare plans chosen for them by their employers. Now suddenly they have to try to make sense of a huge national healthcare program that has 4 parts, 10 supplements, and thousands of plan options. To make matters worse, Medicare beneficiaries who get it wrong up front can find themselves paying penalties they don't deserve and being trapped in plans that don't fit their needs, lifestyle, or budget. In 10 Costly Medicare Mistakes, Danielle guides new beneficiaries through the key decisions they'll need to make at the beginning of their journey while also helping them expertly avoid the most common and costly mistakes that new beneficiaries often make.