Just when you think you
have figured out the latest news in healthcare you find that more and more
changes occur every day. When you plan
on retire ring you think that the golden age is 65 with an added benefit of
Medicare. Great coverage, a small monetary
value and freedom to retire and live a life of luxury, then you are hit with
the realization that there are things that are small discrepancies, which will affect
your complete retirement package.
As I started digging in to the Wall Street Journal I discovered a bit of unexpected news. Ellen E. Schultz, writer for the Wall Street Journal, tells Americans how much Medicare costs depending on how long you are part of Medicare in her article, "How to Avoid Medicare Land Mines": “Medicare Part A, which carries no premium, is hospital insurance. It has a deductible of $1,156 that covers hospital stays up to 60 days, copayments of $289 a day for days 61-90, and copayments of $578 a day for days 91 to 150 days” (Schultz). With a fixed income how can America afford such steep coverage? Then move on to the part B plan of Medicare which covers the medications, doctors, lab test and outpatient care. This is a $99 premium every month for those that make under $214,000 a year then their deductible can be as high as $319.70 per month. When does Americans catch a break? You then happen upon the part D plan of Medicare which may start with a little premium but works up a huge bill when they hit the donut hole. Is this the plan that America thinks is so great? I believe that there isn’t enough money every month to make ends meet, as we all realize with growing inflation. (Schultz)
As I started digging in to the Wall Street Journal I discovered a bit of unexpected news. Ellen E. Schultz, writer for the Wall Street Journal, tells Americans how much Medicare costs depending on how long you are part of Medicare in her article, "How to Avoid Medicare Land Mines": “Medicare Part A, which carries no premium, is hospital insurance. It has a deductible of $1,156 that covers hospital stays up to 60 days, copayments of $289 a day for days 61-90, and copayments of $578 a day for days 91 to 150 days” (Schultz). With a fixed income how can America afford such steep coverage? Then move on to the part B plan of Medicare which covers the medications, doctors, lab test and outpatient care. This is a $99 premium every month for those that make under $214,000 a year then their deductible can be as high as $319.70 per month. When does Americans catch a break? You then happen upon the part D plan of Medicare which may start with a little premium but works up a huge bill when they hit the donut hole. Is this the plan that America thinks is so great? I believe that there isn’t enough money every month to make ends meet, as we all realize with growing inflation. (Schultz)
Monthly Income
Guidelines1
|
Asset Guidelines2
|
|||
Program
|
Individual
|
Couple
|
Individual
|
Couple
|
$928
|
$1,246
|
$6,680
|
$10,020
|
|
SLMB
|
$1,109
|
$1,491
|
$6,680
|
$10,020
|
QI
|
$1,246
|
$1,675
|
$6,680
|
$10,020
|
Let’s look at how our government is supplementing the public with a little break. How do we even know where to begin when the government doesn’t tell us? What is the coverage? What are we going to need to learn to provide a better more inexpensive solution? I fell upon a site from the state those talks about Medicare Savings Program. There is an income guideline which a very few will ever qualify for. This simply means that if you are married or a single individual the government is willing to pay your $99 premium so that it won’t be such a hardship on those that are low income. What is our government thinking with such small amounts? Could you imagine with all the other payments that our seniors are paying how they can be troubled with the decision if it is best to go to the doctor or eat? Should we even ask why we are so grateful that we have national healthcare?
Works cited
Medicare
in Colorado. 2011. Chart. Medicare Interactive, Colorado
Schultz, Ellen E. "How to Avoid Medicare Land Mines." Wall
Street Journal [New York] 13 Jul 2012, n. pag. Web. 14 Jul. 2012.
Great topic, Mary. Some day I hope that this healthcare issue is resolved. Prices are so high, no wonder millions of people go with out. Even though they've changed the policy to waive pre-existing conditions that drove the cost up as well. You start out with a policy and every year the premium goes up a couple hundred dollars. I've also heard for a long time that as you get older (retirement) you basically just exchange your mortgage pmt (that's if you're lucky enough to pay it off by retirement) for your health ins premium.
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ReplyDeleteI think you might be right about exchanging your premiums and copayments for a mortgage payment. When I think of all the money I pay out for health insurance every month, most peoples payments are smaller. How is it that with the increase in sickness that anyone can even comes close to being able to afford this luxury? For a family plan most people are paying around $1000 or more per month. The average family makes around $81,477 a year for a family of 4. Let’s look at that a little closer… After taxes a family brings home $48,886 which is $4,073 per month. (Children and Families Administration) Let’s say that you pay rent, utilities, food, transportation and health insurance, what is America living on? We wonder why people are having difficulties making ends meet; this is a basic breakdown not including other basic necessities like clothing and furnishings.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/03/15/2012-6220/state-median-income-estimates-for-a-four-person-household-notice-of-the-federal-fiscal-year-ffy-2013#t-1
Works Cited
State Median Income Estimates for a Four-Person Household: Notice of the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2013 State Median Income Estimates for Use Under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)