Health of Ageing (CASE) - Essay Example

Patient Protection and Affordable Act on the Elderly College/School Patient Protection and Affordable Act on the elderlyThe Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act leave a healthy impact on senior citizens in a structured manner. They will get relief through reductions in medical bills, drugs and through preventive services. However, a few seniors will also face reductions in incumbent benefits they currently get from Medicare Advantage plans and increases in premiums for the rich. Provider payment rates might reduce if this is extended for years.

Different provisions that will affect delivery and payment system will also benefit elderly people. But it can also hamper their access to healthcare. The intent of these elements is to bring reforms to healthcare industry. The purpose is to make healthcare more effective and adhering to better standard, to improve care transition from hospitals to other facilities (“CMS”, 2014). Even though the new policies are not aimed at the elderly population but they are the ones that will be significantly affected by it.

The Medicare premium is the main element that directly impacts the medical cost of the elderly. The threshold of higher income related Medicare will remain the same till 2019. In my humble opinion the new policies will make healthcare more affordable for the elderly. This is not easy to conclude because the same reforms also take away some benefits that the elderly are already getting. For instance the closure of the Medicare part D regarding the prescription drug program has helped citizen in getting some financial relief (Frank & Newhouse, 2008).

But on the contrary, the increased premium amount for the rich makes their life a little less comfortable. ReferenceCMS (2014) Community-based care transition program. CMS.Gov. Retrieved August 21, 2014 from http://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/CCTP/index.html Frank, R. G. & Newhouse, J. P. (2008) Should drug prices be negotiated under part D of Medicare? And if so, how? Health Aff (Millwood). 27(1): 33-43.