About Government Insurance
In addition to treating the patient, providers also have to be mindful of what insurance companies are willing to cover. You can have the best treatment in the world but if the insurance companies don’t cover it then the costs will always be a factor and almost every year, companies are covering less care.
Overall, everyone somewhat suffers, people are getting sicker because they can’t afford the care or treatment. Providers are becoming overwhelmed because an increase in cost also makes them more liable for mistakes due to under-treating or the lack of resources. These deficiencies lead to how patient care can become more complex.
However, preventive measures are important, which is what insurance companies are leaning towards, not because they’ve become caring all of a sudden but primarily avoiding a condition is cheaper than managing it. Here are some simple concepts of government care:
What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
Medicare
Medicare is an insurance program. Medical bills are paid from trust funds which those covered have paid into. It serves people over 65 primarily, whatever their income; and serves younger disabled people and dialysis patients. Patients pay part of costs through deductibles for hospitals and other costs. Small monthly premiums are required for non-hospital coverage. Medicare is a federal program. It is basically the same everywhere in the United States and is run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, an agency of the federal government.
Medicaid
Medicaid is an assistance program. It serves low-income people of every age. Patients usually pay no part of costs for covered medical expenses. A small co-payment is sometimes required. Medicaid is a federal-state program. It varies from state to state. It is run by state and local governments within federal guidelines.
Here are a few info-graphs that outline Medicaid and Medicare. But always think about preventive care/treatment because having no disease or decreasing the complication is the most beneficial:
