NURS 510 Week 4 Discussion

Identify three major components of the Medicare and Medicaid programs and, based on these components, identify at least two patient coverage gaps for each of the programs. Be clear when you describe the coverage and the gaps as they may relate to specific ages, patient populations, or disease entities. Use primary sources to identify the components and the gaps. Additionally, discuss your stand (criticize or defend) regarding the relevance of the Social Security program to the American public. Should the program be left alone, modified, drastically changed, or eliminated? Provide the rationale and use facts to defend your position.

Solution

While studying Medicare and Medicaid last semester during my acute care clinical rotation, I’ve noticed three key aspects: what they cover, what they don’t cover, and who qualifies. Medicare covers things like hospital stays, doctor visits, and prescriptions. However, it doesn’t cover long-term care, dental, or vision unless you have additional plans. I saw firsthand that many patients using Medicare couldn’t use it for long-term care if they owned property. This often forced them to give away their property just to qualify for necessary rehab and care.

On the other hand, Medicaid covers more services, but the specifics vary by state, which can leave low-income individuals without access to certain medical needs. This inconsistency is a big issue, as both Medicare and Medicaid have gaps that can leave people without crucial support.

When it comes to Social Security, I feel like it’s not really meeting the needs of Americans today. We always hear about how we’re living longer, so the retirement age keeps getting pushed. But during my clinical rotation, I saw how many older adults just can’t continue working into their late 60s or 70s. They often feel like they’re being forced into retirement and then into total dependency on long-term care facilities. Research even shows that raising the retirement age could mean older adults are less involved in community activities like volunteering and caregiving (Zissimopoulos, Blaylock, Goldman, & Rowe, 2017). I think Social Security should be changed so people can actually enjoy their retirement while they’re still healthy and active.

Reference:

Zissimopoulos, J., Blaylock, B., Goldman, D. P., & Rowe, J. W. (2017). Raising the Social Security Entitlement Age. Research on aging, 39(1), 166–189. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027516656137Links to an external site.

DeWalt, D. A., Oberlander, J., Carey, T. S., & Roper, W. L. (2005). Significance of Medicare and Medicaid programs for the practice of medicine. Health care financing review, 27(2), 79–90

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