THE WESTMINSTERFORUM

THEHEALTHCARE

ISSUE

CONTRIBUTORS:The Westminster Young Democrats ClubEmma BoelterTimothy ShuAlex FloydLiz MorganMegh GoreJoe Sheehan

Timothy ShuDuring the Great Depression, the United States

suffered its worst economic downturn in history.   In an effort to provide relief, President Franklin D. Roosevelt implemented various economic programs known collectively as the New Deal.  One of his goals during this period was to create a of social security program as a means of providing economic security.  To this end, President Roosevelt put together the Committee on Economic Security, which would suggest legislation to put before Congress.   After about six months, they drafted a proposal for the president, who then presented the bill to the House of Representatives and Senate in January of 1935.  Both houses voted in support of the bill, so on August 14, 1935, President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law.   This new Social Security program would experience many changes in the 1960s.   In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare bill, the most important amendment to Social Security.   This new bill provided health coverage for Americans aged 65 or older.  

Over the years, various presidents passed amendments to further refine Social Security and Medicare.   In 1972, Medicare protection was extended to cover people suffering from certain disabilities as well as to those with chronic kidney disease.   In the 1980s, the Social Security program suffered from a lack of finances.  Therefore, in 1983, President Reagan passed a bill to tax benefits received from the program.  When George W. Bush came into office, he made Social Security and Medicare reform one of his top priorities.  During this period, the biggest change to the Medicare program was the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, which President Bush passed in 2003.   In this massive overhaul of the Medicare system, the Social Security Act was amended to provide benefits for those requiring prescription drugs.   In the wake of another recession, Medicare and Social Security have come under increased criticism.  The economic instability within the United States has caused some to question the necessity of these two programs.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF MEDICARE

MEDICARE VERSUS MEDICAID

Alex FloydAs a global superpower, we have the obligation

to provide to our citizens a decent standard of living and to guarantee them certain unalienable rights. Often this phrase brings to mind the Bill of Rights, but beyond that, there is a second more pressing set of liberties that all Americans must be granted. The right to an education, the right to a decent job, and, of course, the right to healthcare. In a society in which more than 50 million Americans remain uninsured, we simply cannot afford to wait (Wolf 2010). Even with recent health care reform legislation, millions will still remain without coverage and the act’s main components will not come into affect for years (Wahlgren 2009). But the solution is within our reach. Medicare, one of the most popular government programs in country, offers free health service to our nation’s senior citizens at lower costs than the private market through a single payer model. Single payer healthcare is viable solution that can satisfy the quest to provide cheap, quality healthcare to our citizens and guarantee them they rights they deserve.

Perhaps the most fundamental reason for supporting Medicare for all is its low costs. Although Medicare costs have risen, they have done so at a much slower pace than the private market. This is not to say that additional reforms cannot be implemented to help control Medicare costs even more, but considering the fact that private health insurance premiums have skyrocketed by 700% compared to Medicare’s 400% since 1969, the massive savings that could be achieved through a Medicare for all system are tremendously outweigh the gargantuan costs imposed by the current system (Krugman 2011). These potential savings can actually be quantified courtesy of Physicians for a National Health Program, which estimates that savings could be as high as over $400 billion

“As a global superpower, we have the obligation to provide to our citizens a decent standard of living.”

MEDICARE FOR ALL

annually, solely through the reduction of massive bureaucratic and executive overhead, not to mention the fact that the government, unlike private enterprises, does not need to make a profit and can therefore offer services at a much lower cost.

We must also investigate the high rate of satisfaction that most seniors have with their healthcare. A CAHPS national survey conducted in 2007 revealed that 56% of Medicare enrollees gave Medicare a 9 or 10 rating, with 10 being the highest. This is compared to only 40% of those with private insurance who rate their healthcare plans at 9 or 10. Not to mention the enormous public support for “Medicare for all” plans, which was measured at 72% by a recent CBS News/New York times poll (Blumenthal

2011). This shows that not only is single payer healthcare economically feasible, but politically as well, with such a large swath of the electorate supporting such a plan.

It is simply unacceptable that the United States exists as one of the few developed countries without a system of universal healthcare (Conason 2009). Americans’ right to healthcare should no longer be infringed by the profit margins and revenue streams of insurance corporations. In this day and age, every American deserves quality care, without a heavy financial burden. Let’s make this dream a reality. Let’s change our future and put America back on the path to prosperity by providing all Americans with universal health coverage today.

Liz MorganThe subject of Medicare and Medicaid is

hard for young Westminster students to have a real true opinion about. We don’t pay the bills and it is safe to say the majority of people here have medical insurance. We do not run into these ideas of Medicare or Medicaid everyday and when faced to create an opinion about them, it can be very challenging. After doing some unbiased research on the two topics I was able to come up with my opinion on these subjects, although I’m aware that as they become more prevalent in my life my views may change. I believe that with an increasing elderly population and the lack of employment in our nation, health must be a top priority despite the large cost of Medicare and Medicaid.

Employment, a home, and transportation are a l l i d e a s

that people can argue not everyone deserves or has a right to. I can understand all these and many more ideas but I believe that a person’s health is not something one should work for or hope to be born into a life that gives you good health care. I feel that for those that cannot afford health services or is older or disabled, they should still be able to have access to these services and be confident that they will receive assistance. Medicaid, which assists those in poverty, is especially important at a time when employment rates are so low and people are not bringing in enough income for medical needs. Although it is difficult, we need to attempt to wrap our minds around the idea that some people have no choice of going to the doctor when they are sick, not to mention lack of treatment for diseases or other serious conditions. Without Medicaid many more people would be at risk because of lack of medical

attention and treatment. Medicare, services for those aged 65 and older, rewards those that have been contributing to society and paying Medicare and Medicaid services for many years. I find Medicare to be

important because once a person is too old to work they need to be sure that their health will still be taken care of even if they are not still bringing in a constant income. Plus, typically the older a person is, the more illnesses they will run into, thus the need for more medical attention is typically greater.If one were to read about Medicare and Medicaid alone one would not

“If one were to read about Medicare and Medicaid alone one would not understand why there is any debate on the idea.”

FORMING AN OPINION

understand why there is any debate on the idea. Caring for other’s health seems kind and warm-hearted but it is vital to understand the cost effects of such services. The US is in a heap of debt and Medicare and Medicaid costs are contributing widely to it. It will be interesting to see how Obama will address these programs in his final months in office and how the possible next president will handle them. The fear in cutting costs is that there won’t be enough access to health services for many Americans. Obviously, no one desires for people to lack these services but the real question is if it is worth the huge sum of

money invested into it. I feel that if cuts should be made they should be to Medicare over Medicaid. I think that Medicaid is a more important service because people with low incomes can truly not afford the services while those on Medicare are typically just retiring. I don’t believe either of the services should be demolished or forgotten but if funding cuts are necessary I believe they should be to Medicare. Overall, I strongly support both Medicare and Medicaid funding because I think they both are incredible programs that offer vital health services to American citizens that may have trouble obtaining them otherwise.

MEDICAID SAVES LIVESMegh Gore

Medicaid saves lives. It is as easy as that. Without Medicaid, thousands of people may not be on this earth, populating out schools, work places and grocery stores. Medicaid is a program that allows the elderly and people of lower incomes to be able to afford medical and health services. Around 52 million people receive Medicaid payments with 39 million consisting of low-income families and 13 million consisting of the elderly. Over half the people with AIDS in the United States receive the payments. In fact, Medicaid has made such an impact on the healthcare field that Medicaid provides 1 in 5 health care dollars and 1 in 2 nursing home

dollars (Kaiser). Imagining a world without Medicaid and similar programs is scary. Coming from someone who wants to be a part of the health care field when I get older simply thinking about a world where people are deprived the right to obtain something as crucial as medical attention appalls me. If Medicaid is that important that 1 in 5 dollars are Medicaid, a lot of people have to be relying on it to get everything in their lives from flu shots to AIDS medication. So while I can at times see the validity of the criticism of Medicaid, Medicaid is necessary. It saves lives.

Jenna Johnson, in Minnesota has Cerebral Palsy. Because Jenna qualifies for Medicaid, she is able to live it at home independently (Kaiser). A

freedom most of us take for granted. Medicaid changed her life, allows her to become her own person, not dependent on a parent or caregiver. Furthermore, women like Natalia Diaz from Washington D.C. are able to safely give birth without worrying about illness or proper care for

their newborn (Kaiser). The elderly, like Naomi Stufflebeam are able to afford living at home, afford prescription drugs, assistive devices but also, Naomi can much more easily afford Medicare. So now not only is Medicaid saving lives by providing these people with much needed medicine and medical care, but changing the way people live also.

Medicaid is an extremely controversial plan, even among both Democrats and Republicans. There are many people who don’t receive the help

they need from Medicaid, including a lot of families and people who might partially qualify because of their medical disabilities but not because of their economic status. Medicaid is by no means perfect. But it is crucial. There are millions of people in the United States, our

friends, family and neighbors who depend on Medicaid for survival. So while I understand the criticism that shadows Medicaid, the program saves lives. Over the years improvements could be made, amendments allowing families to gain access or possibly an entirely new plan that adopts the important points of this plan and allows others more equal opportunities to obtain aid.  But one thing is for sure, Medicaid is a crucial governmental program that we could not ever do without.

Images:

Till Krech. “Ambulance.” Photo. Flickr. Web. 7 May 2012.

Martin Abegglen. “Hospital.” Photo. Flickr. Web. 7 May 2012.

Patrick. “Pharmacy.” Photo. Flickr. Web. 7 May 2012.

Images Money. “Medicine Cost.” Photo. Flickr. Web. 7 May 2012.

Digital Cat. “Hospital - Dottore phoning.” Photo. Flickr. Web. 7 May 2012.

Elliot Brown. “Green Cross.” Photo. Flickr. Web. 7 May 2012.

Adrian Boliston. “Hospital.” Photo. Flickr. Web. 7 May 2012.

Medicare For All:

Blumenthal, Mark. “Who’s Afraid of Public Health Insurance?” National Journal. National Journal, 2 Jan. 2011. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.

Conason, Joe. “The questions our healthcare debate ignores.” Salon 9 Mar. 2009. Web.14 Feb. 2012.

Krugman, Paul. “Medicare Saves Money.” New York Times. New York Times, 12 June 2011. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.

Single Payer National Health Insurance. Physicians for a National Health Program. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.

Wahlgren, Eric. “Health Care Reform Leaves Millions Uninsured, and the Rest Must Wait.” Daily Financial. Daily Financial, 23 Dec. 2009. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.

Wolf, Richard. “Numeber of uninsured Americans rises to 50.7 million.” USA Today. USA Today, 16 Sept. 2010. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.

Medicare versus Medicaid:

The U. S. Social Security Association. “Medicare.” Social Security. Web. 8 May 2012.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “What Is Medicare.” Medicare. Web. 8 May 2012.

Georgia Department of Community Health. “Eligibility.” GeorgiaGov. Web. 8 May 2012.

“Medicaid.” National Council of State Legislatures. Web. 8 May 2012.

Medicaid Saves Lives:

“Medicare and Medicaid Statistics.” The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Web. 8 May 2012.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Better luck next year.