Medicare is the name given to the system of insurance of health managed by the US government and intended for the people of more than 65 years or answering certain criteria. The name comes from a contraction between medical (medical) and care (dealt with, care). The first law which set up Medicare was voted on July 30th, 1965 under the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson in the form of amendment to the legislation of social security. At the time of the vote of the law, president Johnson made to former president Harry S. Truman the first recipient of the program, delivering the first Medicare chart to him.
Financing and cost of Medicare
Medicare is partly financed by taxes envisaged by the law of contribution to the federal system of assistance to the use and the health of 1954. For the employees, the tax accounts for 2.9% of the wages (half is paid by the employee, the other by the employer). Until December 31st, 1993, the law envisaged an maximum amount beyond whose the wages could not be imposed. But starting from January 1st, 1994, this limit was removed. For the independent ones. the tax accounts for 2.9% on the net income paid in its totality by him.The financial year 2002 (figure of 2004), Medicare cost 256.8 billion dollars: 230.9 billion was financed by the taxes, the remainder by the government.
In 2003, Medicare accounted for 13% of the federal budget. According to calculations of the CMS, 33% of each dollar spent in the health care in the United States is dealt with by Medicare and Medicaid. In the other direction, Medicare and Medicaid cover 61% of the expenditure in care male nurses, 47% of the hospital expenditure and 27% of the medical expenditure.
Operation
In general, the individuals can receive the assistances of Medicare if they (them or their couple) cotisé at least 10 years, are old of more than 65 years and live in a permanent way in the United States.The individuals who have less than 65 years can also be eligible on the condition of being handicapped or to be at the final stage of a renal disease. These people must, to be eligible, receive assistances either of the Social security or Funds of financing of the retirements of the railwaymen.
In 2005, Medicare envisaged covers diseases for 42,5 million American. With the arrival of the babies-boomers to the retirement, one expects that 77 million American is covered by Medicare.
The Medicare program is divided into two funds: funds of hospital insurance and funds of medical insurance. Two other exceptional funds envisage: a cover which combines with the insurance private; and a cover for the detoxications.
However, none of these funds entirely finances the cost of the care. The program envisages the payment of an insurance, deductible expenses; but in any event the individual will have to pay of it most of his pocket ( out-of-pockets costs ). One can undoubtedly moderate that to add of it that other governmental programs such as Medicaid help with the payment of certain expenses in partnership with Medicare. Programs such as Medigap make it possible to fill the difference: however, although these insurances are legally fixed by the CMS, they are sold and managed by private companies.
See too
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