SOC 304 Week 5 DQ 2 Medicare Recent

DQ2: As Chapter 11 in your textbook notes, the costs for health care have risen dramatically and are expected to continue to rise. While Medicare is a public insurance program that provides coverage to almost everyone who is 65 and older, it only covers a portion of health care expenses. In fact, the authors of your textbook note that “if current trends continue, by 2030 half of those aged 65 and older will spend more than 25% of their income on medical bills and insurance premiums” (Markson & Stein, 2012).

After reading Chapter 11 in your textbook and watching “Aging America and Healthcare Reform,” please address each of the following:

a. Compare and contrast the services provided to older individuals under Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.

b. Compare and contrast the health care services provided under Medicare versus Medicaid. Be sure to address how each program is funded, what they cover, who qualifies for them, and what role each plays in paying for health care of the elderly population.

c. Discuss the current funding for Medicare and why there is debate regarding the program.

d. What changes (if any) do you think that there will be in the Medicare program over the next 20 years?

e. Do you believe that the eligibility requirements should be changed in order to receive the health services provided by Medicare? Why or why not?

Your initial post should be at least 250 words in length. Support your claims with examples from the required material(s) and/or other scholarly resources, and properly cite any references

ORDER NOW FOR ORIGINAL, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPERS

Week 2 assignment
The Aging Connection

The number of older Americans has increased dramatically because older adults are living longer partly due to the improvements in health care technology. However, the question of quality of life has been raised as people live longer and experience more health problems in the midst of rising health care costs and, as the textbook authors note, “individuals’ past health histories also directly affect their use of health care and will continue to do so” (Markson & Stein, 2012).

Those health histories include gender, as well as race and ethnicity, which are all factors in the development of chronic illnesses. Moreover, race and ethnicity have an impact upon an individual’s access to health care and the type of treatment they receive. This type of inequality plays a role in not only longevity but also the quality of life. For example, your textbook indicates that “Blacks live fewer years on average than Whites and live more years with chronic health problems” (Markson & Stein, 2012). This assignment is intended to demonstrate the interconnection between health practices, health care, and health outcomes for older adults.

Write a paper discussing the relationship of health histories (including health practices), health care, and health outcomes for older Americans. Please elaborate upon the role of gender and ethnicity in your discussion of health outcomes, as well. What are the differences in health outcomes related to gender and ethnicity? What are the causes of these disparities in the health of older individuals? Be sure to discuss cumulative disadvantages in relation to health and illness.

The paper must be two to three pages in length (excluding the title and reference page), and formatted according to APA style. In addition to the textbook, you must use at least two scholarly sources (at least one of which can be found in the Ashford University Library) to support your points. Cite your sources within the text of your paper and on the reference page. For information regarding APA, including samples and tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center, located within the Learning Resources tab on the left navigation toolbar.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be