subject: How Many Americans On Medicare Hope To Get Relief From High Medical Costs? [print this page] Medicare was conceived as a public benefit undertaking by the US government to aid older people handle their medical care. With escalating medical costs and steep expenses symbolizing medical care in the US, Americans need a secure and stable system that helps them address the problem of paying for their medical care in senior years. Steep medical costs actually forced people to choose between their finances and their health. To combat this struggle to pay medical bills, the government implemented the Medicare program as a social initiative.
To answer the question of how many Americans on Medicare programs are currently getting relief, there are about 50 million Americans enrolled under the Medicare scheme. This makes about 15 percent of the population of America. The primary objective of Medicare is to help people invest in their health during their working years so that paying for medical costs at a later date becomes easier.
Medicare covers medical care for people above the age of 65. It is reasonable to suppose that people above the age of 65 will be more prone to illness and failing health and consequently, they would require some form of medical relief. Medicare has certainly been one of the governments successful ventures as far as public health is concerned.
There are certain exceptions to the rule of 65 years of age. Americans who are below the age of 65 can also be entitled to Medicare benefits under certain conditions such as disability. If they have been under disability benefits for more than 24 months, they are eligible for Medicare benefits. Though Medicare takes care of major worries regarding payment for medical services, there are gaps in its coverage that end up with people paying from their own pockets. Seen in the light of this fact, it is more difficult to judge how many Americans on Medicare actually reap the full benefit of its provisions.
Medicare is split up into different plans covering various aspects of medical care. These deal with different aspects such as inpatient and hospital care, medical bills, drug and prescription expenses and outpatient care. In order to use Medicare, it is better to understand what it is and how it works. Generally speaking, individuals who enroll for Medicare pay an amount every month as deductible towards Medicare expenses. The deductible varies depending on which plan they have enrolled for.
The government is making concerted efforts to encourage more people into enrolling for Medicare programs so that fewer numbers are left uninsured when it comes to medical care. Medicaid is another branch of Medicare America that caters to those who fall into lower income groups.
