Medicare and Medicaid both have significant gaps which can greatly affect the care that the individual receives. These healthcare coverages do not pay for the cost of routine dental care such as cleanings, hearing aids, and eyeglasses. These are important elements of care that many patients require, especially those who are older such as people on Medicare and those who are less financially stable .
Medicaid and Medicare also do not pay for custodial care. Custodial care is needed for patients who are unable to live by themselves but do not require skilled medical care. People with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia issues which prevent them from caring for themselves are in need of Custodial care. Again, the elderly are affected by this gap .
Social Security
A significant change needs to be made to the system of Social Security. Currently, it is expected for the funds available to make payments to individuals will become exhausted by 2037. If the government waits to take action until the funds are gone benefits will need to be reduced about 25 percent or payroll tax will need to be increased by around one-third. Either of these scenarios will place undue pressure and loss of income to those who are still working and those who rely on their Social Security benefits for their income. What the answer is and how to improve the health of the Social Security fund is a question for the experts, but making slow changes over time will be easier to implement and will be easier to weather by the population .
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). What’s not covered by Part A & Part B? Retrieved from Medicare.gov: https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/not-covered/item-and-services-not-covered-by-part-a-and-b.html
- Goss, S. (2010). The Future Financial Status of the Social Security Program. Social Security Bulletin.
