Social security and Medicare reform Policy recommendations - Essay Example

Social Security and Medicare Reform Policy Recommendations The Medicare program is a recognized health program which operates in the United States mainly for the elderly people aged 65 years and over and those who are disabled. The program was established way back in the 1965 when the Social Security Amendment was passed. The program is run by the Centers for Medicare Services. The program started covering the disabled people in 1973. The program provides hospital insurance where the people enrolled are protected against huge medical costs.

The program also offers supplementary medical insurance program whereby people are assisted in paying for health care bills and doctor bills. In 2002, there were around 40.5 million citizens of United States who were enrolled in the program. In 2006, the government paid more than $80,000 for the program. The following is the data on the progress of the program. Beneficiaries by ageStates Elderly (65-74) Elderly (75-84) Elderly 80+Low State Kansas 36% Alaska 21% North Carolina 7%High State Nevada 52% Montana 35% Rhode Island 15%US 43% 28% 11% Ethnicity White Black Hispanic Other Low State Hawaii 21% Kansas 4% Pennsylvania 2% Florida 2%High State Vermont 98% D.

of Columbia 69% New Mexico 30% Hawaii 72%USA 77% 10% 8% 5%The USA Government has been spending over $7576 millions in Alaska under Low State, over $50,604 millions in California which is regarded as a High State, and a total of $471 260 millions in the US. Type of Beneficiary Old Age Insurance Survivors Insurance Disability Insurance BeneficiariesNumber in Thousands 38000 7000 11000 Total monthly benefits (Millions of Dollars) 46000 7500 10600The data above shows how the US Government spends money on various specials groups in the population.

The old age Insurance covers the retired workers, Spouses and children. The Survivors Insurance covers the widows, widowers and parents. It also covers the widowed mothers and fathers. The children are also included in the insurance cover. Lastly, the Disability Insurance covers the Disabled workers, Spouses and Children. This report refers to the month of February 2012. As compared to the earlier years, the government has improved both in Medicare and Social Security provision. In 2005, the USA residents had lost hope in the social Security Reform.

In the same year, the residents were not concerned at all by the Medicare Reform. What mattered to them most was on the progress of the war against Iraq. The economic goals will be achieved through improving the care given to the elderly, developing and promoting a holistic approach which is person centered to the person who is given the care, through recognition and focusing on the empowerment of the beneficiary, and enhancing equality control throughout the systems of social security and Medicare.

The policy recommendations stated that there was going to be no changes to social security since it does not contribute to deficit reduction. The president also believed that social security is not a driver of medium term deficits. The president reported that the Social Security program does not contribute at all to the deficit. There was a recommendation that the Social Security cuts to be put off. The other policy recommendation was to increase the eligibility age of those who were receiving the Medicare from age 65 to 67.

The policy recommended that the Medicare savings to be increased up to $340 billion.Work CitedSam Stein. Obama Won’t Include Social Security Reform In Recommendations To Super Committee. Wall Street Journal, 56, no.4, April 11th 2012. PrintMark Hertsgaard. Obama Backs Off Social Security Medicare Reform. The Washington Post. 34, no.4, 19th February 2012. PrintBob Bennet. Social Security Reform. Finanacial Times. 45, no.3 Friday October 28, 2011. Print.