Health Services for Employed and Unemployed People of Age 65-67 - Research Proposal Example

Running Header: Health services for Employed and Unemployed people of age 65-67 Your name: Course name: Professors’ name: Date Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Summary of the Study/Introduction 3 Background/ Problem Statement 3 Literature Review 4 Purpose of the Research or Justification 6 Research Questions 7 Methodology 8 Theoretical Framework or Conceptual Framework 8 Potential Research Outcomes and Significance 9 Conclusion 10 References 11 Summary of the Study/Introduction The Australian population has increased its aging bracket by approximately 25 percent. The number of retirees weighs heavily on the working portion of Australians in terms of heath care contributions. This research will focus on the time and type of health care services accessed by 65 year old retirees compared to their working counterparts. The retired Australians receive health care services frequently compared to those working. The commonwealth through the ministry of health confirms that the aging population accounts for the increased spending on health. The rationale of the investigation is to survey the number of health care accessed by the aged who are unemployed compared to those who are employed. This research will dwell on the methods of comparison and the factors considered in attaining reliable results. The significance of both situations will be examined and evaluated in regard to health care services. The different health care given to the aged in Australia will be evaluated on grounds of type and time of access. An evaluation of how the time and type of access to health care will be affected by the employment status of the aged in Australia will be explored. Reviews will be considered to give a practical view of the study and help develop a hypothesis for the research. The trend of health care access will be compared between 2000-2002 and 2010-2012. Background/ Problem Statement The point of concern is health care services for aged in Australia and how their employment status affects the health care system. According to News Australia, the growth of the aging population will be expected to double following the trend over the years (Ergas 2011, p.78) The aged who are unemployed consume the most of health care but, contribute nothing. Australians that work beyond the age pension age are required to contribute to Medicare to support the lot that is unemployed. There are areas with a high number aging citizens and others such as the metropolitan regions with little aging individuals. The differences have an implication on the health care system of the government. The unemployed population of the aged Australia is bound to face a rise in all its territories regardless of metropolitan or rural areas. The health care system is bound to strain to carter for a population that is dependent on government support. Literature Review The Australian reviews the issue of increasing retirement age from 65 to 67 by 2008 and further to 70 by 2017. The suggestion is intended to reduce the burden of pension payment to retirees by approximately $ 6 billion per year. The idea is part of a labor plan to increase the pension age to 67 in the near future (Shanahan 2014, p.4). The plan will see that those that intend to retire at 65 cater for their own health care. The pension system will be liable for retirees at 70 years. The Australian considers the reviews by the Abbott government’s spending appraisal team that explains the work frame of the recommended retirement age. The health care system in 2000-2002 was well-off compared to 2010-2012 because the number of unemployed aged Australians has increased (Shanahan 2014, p.4). The recommended retirement age does not impact the existing pension plan. However, deliberations are being given to change the rate of indexation for annuity payments. The change will allow the aged to access their health care at equal rate since the retirement age will be at 70. In 2010-2012 deliberations to increase retirement age were considered and the idea is being looked into for implementation (Shanahan 2014, p.2). The formula considered for implementing the retirement age plan is according to the labor rate of a six-month increase within two years. The emphasis in the changes is intended to make sustainable over a long period. The system will influence the health sector since the plan does not include cut-offs to the government budget for pension. Unemployed aged Australians are expected to seek jobs because the government cannot sustain their growing numbers (Shanahan 2014, p.4). The plan reduces the burden for the employed individuals since the health care burden is shared equally. The time and type of health care access is given depending on the contributions of an individual. The aged become responsible of their Medicare funding according to the literature review of the Australian (Shanahan, 2014). The burden is reduced and the taxpayer is saved a total of $150 billion over the span of 4 years that the aged will be working. The age that are employed strain to attain their health care services and contribute to the national Medicare through taxes (Ergas 2011, p.78).). On the other hand, the unemployed access most of the health care services without contributing to its sustainability. The weight of Medicare for the unemployed rests on the employed although they experience similar old age related health issues. The unemployed access majority of the health care service compared to the employed since they are vulnerable to diseases that come with old age due to inactivity. Imposing the Medicare contribution on the employed demands extra work hours for them to cater for the health care services (AIHW 2014, p.102). The strain exerted on the employed aged Australians weighs on their health. They are old and vulnerable hence they are subject to aches due to hard work. The do not get to enjoy support from government and other organizations without paying their dues compared to those who have retired. The retired Australians are given pension packages and income support. Their health care is catered for by those who continue to work and the concern builds since the government feels the pressure too. The older working population also contributes to their Medicare in terms of insurance (AIHW 2014, p.102). Purpose of the Research or Justification The major purpose of this research proposal is to highlight how the unemployed freely get what the employed work hard to get. The health care support given to the unemployed is excellent compared to the employed because the government helps fund their health care. The research explores the implications of extending the retirement age to 70 in the light of Medicare contributions. The unemployed are able to contribute to the Medicare through their salaries compared to the current case where they rely upon the employed (Bruce 2007, p.485). The research highlights the procedure of discerning the health care access for both the employed and unemployed. The time and type access for both groups of the aged in Australia is looked into to advice on possible solutions. The research proposal is validated since it looks at the number of unemployed that access Medicare freely compared to those that work for to get health care (Ergas 2011, p.78). The justification of the proposal is cemented by the fact that the unemployed access health care many times compared to the employed. The type health care is also advanced and age appropriate since the government identifies their old age predicaments (Bruce 2007, p.485). The employed are not accorded such rights since the public considers them fit. They are disadvantaged yet they experience same health issues as the unemployed. The research is justified because it brings to light factors to consider during the research process. Factors such as time and type of health care services received by the unemployed compared to the employed. The research aims to establish a basis of equalizing health care access. Factors such as rising the retirement age to encourage the aged to fund their Medicare. The research gives a comprehensive evaluation of the weight that employed aged Australians carry because of the increasing number of the unemployed. A literature review from ‘The Australian’ gives credible information on the current and prospective developments regarding the change in retirement age to aid health care funding (Bruce 2007, p.485). The source is accurate and, therefore, validates the purpose of the research proposal. Research Questions On a ratio based evaluation how many unemployed individuals does one employed citizen sustain in terms of Medicare contribution? Are there plans to ensure that all aging Australians are accountable for their Medicare contribution? How does retirement age influence Medicare contribution for the aged? What are the possible implications of recommending increase in retirement age to contribute to Medicare? Are there employment opportunities for the aged in Australia? Methodology The methodology for the proposed research will follow these steps; data assimilation, results, mathematical analysis, recommendations. The data collection phase will include use of both secondary and primary methods. The primary method considered is questionnaires where questionnaires are distributed among the employed and unemployed to determine their take on the issue. Secondary methods for this case will include electronic tallying of the numbers of unemployed verses the employed accessing health care across the nation. Medical reports from health care facilities will used in this method to examine the number of times that the unemployed access health services compared to the employed. In this case, the study will use both quantity and qualitative research methods in the collection, analysis and interpretation of research data Theoretical Framework or Conceptual Framework The preferred approach to the achieving accurate and credible results for the proposal involves considerations of life expectancy. In Australia life expectancy has increased over the years. The current retirement age is at 65 while the life expectancy is 100 years and above (AIHW 2014, p.15). The plan should consider this factor because the number of employed number will not be able to support the increasing unemployed population. The medical expenditure will fall on the reduced number of working persons. The new retirement age allows the government to cut costs by approximately $6 billion per year. The 4-5 years of productivity for individuals within the age of 65-70 is vital for the health system in the country. The research methodology should be done on a sampled population as opposed to all regions of the country. The assessment of the plan should be done on information gather within six months of comparing the health care access for the employed and unemployed. The assessment will give a wide view of the situation in the country regarding health care access for the aged (United Nations 2007, p.243). In case the plan fails, the government saves costs of running the project across the country. Potential Research Outcomes and Significance The expected outcome of the research is mainly in the health care sector where costs of Medicare for the aged are assessed (AIHW 2014, p.15). The research will allow the government to consider changes where all aged citizens contribute to their Medicare. The change likely to be considered is increase in retirement age. The expenditure on Medicare reduces by $150 within four years of executing the increase in retirement age plan. The research is expected to answer possible questions that occur in the path of exploring the comparison in health care access. The research hopes to address the possible implications of rising retirement on the health care system for the aged. The significance of the research is to explore the advantages that Medicare for the old stands to attain after the success of the research (United Nations 2007, p.243). The research explores the impact on the health sector such that it explains how the possible changes in retirement age decrease the expenditure and relieves the employed of the burden. Conclusion To summarize, the research shades light on the factors that influence health care access for the aged in terms of employment the comparison gives numerical data on the past and current health care access for the aged. The role of employed in Medicare contribution is examined. The life expectancy of Australians is approximately 100 years; therefore, the plan to increase retirement age will reduce expenditure on health care. The methods recommended for the research proposal provides evidence based and mathematical validate findings of the research. The questions or hypothesis garnered during the research should be given consideration since they outline possible disputes that may occur in the line of analyzing the findings. The theoretical framework of the research highlights possible methodologies that should be considered for a successful research. The retirement age of the country should be looked into because there is an alarming increase in the unemployed ageing population. The health care system will be strained in terms of availing resources and services for the unemployed. References Anderson, P 2005, Australia: ageing and employment policies, Geneva, OECD. AIHW 2014, Older Australia at a glance (fourth edition), Canberra: Australia Institute of Health Welfare Vol. 2 no.5, pp.15 Bruce, K, A 2007, Challenges in health and health care for Australia, The Medical Journal of Australia, Vol.187 no.9, pp.485-489 Ergas, H 2011 Providing and financing aged care in Australia, Dove Press, Vol. no.4, pp.67-80 Shanahan, D 2014 Pension age on the fast path to 70, The Australian, Vol. 5 no.3, pp.1-4 United Nations 2007, Essentials of employment: account on the global common state of affairs. New York, United Nations. pp.243 Read More