Compare/contrast Health plans and Medicare vs. Medicaid managed health care

Abstract

This research paper is based on comparison and contrast of the two most popular healthcare programs namely Medicare and Medicaid. These two programs have different objectives and mission and are serving the people of United States of America. For this report one can help an individual in identifying the distinctive features of both these programs.

Table of Contents

Introduction4

Discussion4

Medicare4

Medicare Part A5

Medicare Part B5

Medicare Part C6

Medicare Part D6

Services not offered by Medicare7

Eligibility7

Sponsor of Medicare7

Medicaid8

Services Provided by Medicaid8

Eligible for Medicaid9

Conclusion10

References11

Compare/contrast Health plans and Medicare vs. Medicaid managed health care

Introduction

Medicare is a health care program that is sponsored by federal government of United States of America. This program is mainly working for providing healthcare facilities to senior citizens. Medicare is also referred as an insurance program. That pays medical bills of the senior citizens from the trust funds, but there is a special type of bills that can be only paid through this fund.

Medicaid is an assistance program that is managed and sponsored by federal and state governments. The main purpose of program is to facilitate and support low-income people of all ages. The people who qualify for this healthcare program do not have to pay any of the expenses. The medical bills of the patients are paid by federal government and state authorities. Sometimes a small co-payment is required and the terms and conditions of healthcare services that are provided by Medicaid differ from state to state as it is run by local and state government within the guidelines of federal government ((Hellinger, 1998).

Discussion

Medicare

Medicare is sponsored by Federal government and it pays the medical expenditure of senior people who avail the medical care and hospitals services. The age limit for eligibility is above 65 years, but it also offers and bears medical expenditure of young disabled people and the patients who require continuous dialysis. There is a specific amount that is paid by the patients themselves. For non-hospital coverage small monthly premiums are required to be part of this healthcare program. This program is running in all the states of United States in a similar way and is offering similar healthcare benefits to all the people who fulfill the eligibility level. Medicare consist of two main parts for hospitals and medical insurance (Part A & Part B) and the two additional parts that offer flexibility and prescription drugs (Part C and Part D).

The two main parts of Medicare are as follows:

Medicare Part A

It is mainly working for hospitals that include supplies, semi-private, meals and testing room. Part A of Medicare also bears the home healthcare like occupational, physical and speech therapy that is offered on a partly basis and is focused on medical necessity. No premium is paid for this on monthly basis for Part A and the costs are recovered from the payroll taxes that federal government receives.

Medicare Part B

It is also known as supplementary medical insurance. It supports the medical insurance providing centers, clinics that provide services in the ...