Medicare Advantages And Disadvantages

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The purpose of this paper is to explain why unlike Medicare, Medicaid eligibility rules and coverage vary between states and to also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the current state-oriented Medicaid system. Although both health care programs are administered by the U.S. government, there are significant differences in the way these two programs function. The analysis of this paper will reveal the differences and describe the pros and cons attributed by the Medicaid system being administered separately by each state. Although Medicare and Medicaid both provide healthcare for U.S citizens, “Administratively, the biggest difference between Medicaid and Medicare is that states govern a lot of what Medicaid covers, while the federal government runs Medicare” (Caplinger, 2015). The rationale behind these variances is due to Medicaid being based on need and social welfare, whereas Medicare serves people who have reached retirement age or are disabled, regardless of their economic status. This disparity brings forth both advantages and disadvantages for individuals needing this healthcare assistance. …show more content…

As our textbook explains regarding Medicaid, “Because plans are administered at a state level, each state determines coverage and coverage limits and sets payment rates subject to federal guidelines established under Title XIX of the Social Security Act” (Valerius, 2016, p. 362). This enables each state not only with the capability to provide its residents with optional benefits aside from the mandatory federal benefits required by law, but also with the power to consider the cost of living and different income variations for its

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