What's wrong with Medicare/Medicaid?

Question

And why wont people who qualify for it, sign up already?

Answer 1

The system can be seen the be failing by the way it is running out of funds.

I'm not interested in signing up for it, though I don't have insurance yet, since I don't feel like taking every else's money. I don't want a hand out, I would prefer to work for what I get. Its a thing about morals.

By the way, saying things in all caps is very rude and just makes people like to ignore you.

Answer 2

What's wrong with Medicare/Medicaid is that there is rampant abuse on the part of providers. This abuse raises the cost of care and then taxes are increased to cover it. There needs to be a better way of monitoring these providers. Those receiving the care, if they are aware of it need to be reporting such abuse.

The other issue is that most people don't understand Medicare or Medicaid. Medicare is a medical program for the elderly and disabled. Medicaid is for certain low-income individuals once they have almost completely run out of money. There is also SCHIP, Children's Health Insurance Program that covers low-income children who are not eligible for Medicaid.

None of these three kinds of coverage is all inclusive care. But they do provide valuable coverage to those who cannot afford it.

A lot of people think that Medicare and Medicaid are the same thing. There is a stigma applied to both that only poor people have the coverage. That may be true with Medicaid. But Medicare provides coverage to all income levels at retirement or disability.

To read more or order a pamphlet on both levels of coverage go to http://www.medicare.gov

Answer 3

you don't "sign up" for medicaid. You go the hospital uninsured, they take care of you, and you fill out forms that the hospital sumits on your behalf to subsidize the cost of your medical procedures that you and they both know you can't pay.

The problem is the "gap"....the gap is the point where people make just over the income requirement so they don't qualify, but they still don't make enough money in today's economy, to afford private insurance.

The problem is compounded each year, as millions of new people fall into this gap, and unpaid medical expenses are laid at the hospitals doorstep, who in turn raises the price of each procedure and passes that cost onto the shrinking group of people who have insurance. So then the insurance company raises it's rates, and more people fall into the gap.

Answer 4

I'm not quite there yet, I'll "qualify" in a few more years. I'm retired military, I have Tricare. I have my quarterly premiums etc.. The first question asked when I show for a doctors appointment is if I have any other insurance coverage. Tricare requires THAT insurer to pick up whatever initial costs there will be and THEN they will look at picking up whatever is left. Why would I want to contend with the frustration of dealing with TWO or more stingy insurance carriers? I dunno, I still have time to consider my options.

Answer 5

Not sure where you're going with your question..

Are you referring more to the S-CHIP programs or to Medicaid? Medicare is an automatic for people hitting 65

Answer 6

the problem isn't JUST that there are uninsured people.

the problem is some people are UNDERinsured...

and the rest of us are just paying way too much.

it shouldn't be nearly as expensive as it is.

i don't particularly love the idea of Government Funded healtcare(though i wouldn't oppose it)

but what people want is universal healthcare...there's a difference. (in universal, everyone would pay for their own insurance...but they'd be required to...and it would be much much cheaper)

medicare and medicaid are not universal.

Answer 7

The medicare 20% co pay is criminal its there again for insurance company's to sell old poor people over priced insurance

Answer 8

because not all (disabled and elderly) but allot of the people who qualify for medicaid are apathetic about life in general and that's the reason they qualify in the first place.

Answer 9

don't know...I'm already on govt. insurance, TRICARE, and it's the best thing since sliced bread

Answer 10

RICH PEOPLE DONT LIKE IT BECAUSE IT WILL RAISE THERE TAXES