We’re going to take a look at some milestones since the beginning of Medicare time. 1972 marked the first major change in Medicare history. President Richard M. Nixon signed a legislation expanding the coverage of Medicare to individuals under the age of 65 with long term disabilities and end stage renal disease (Anderson). This is a huge deal because it gives those ill people coverage, but that coverage costs more money. All of the issues seem to be a catch22 because everyone wants better but better costs more. The list of benefits keeps growing as the years go on. The 80’s expanded home health services and hospice services for the terminally ill. Then come the 90s! Everyone who was eligible for Medicare were given more options on the private market through Medicare Part C. They offered add on benefits such as prescription drug …show more content…
Part A is free for people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years. If you haven’t done so you pay a monthly premium just like any other health insurance. Part A covers the basics; hospital, nursing facilities, home health and hospice care. Part B requires a monthly premium no matter who you are or what you’ve done. It covers doctor services, preventive care, outpatient services, x-rays, mental health care and a few more. Part C and D get a little complicated. Part C is not separate but the part that allows private health insurance companies to provide Medicare benefits. You can choose plans such as HMOs and PPOs depending on if you want to add Part C to your plan. Part D covers prescription drugs. It is provided only through private insurance companies that have contracts with the government. Part D is never provided directly through the government (What). You would think at this day and age Medicare wouldn’t be so complex or have all of these different parts to. It’s as if we work hard all of our lives just to continues to pay crazy amounts of money for health coverage when we no longer