Social Security Benefits

Question: Write an essay on Social Security. Answer: The above article is succinct and to the point. It makes use of simple language for readers to understand. Additionally, it provides a detailed overview of the benefits of social security. For instance, the article points out that social security helps physically challenged workers, older Americans, and families in which the parent or the spouse has succumbed to death (Social Security Administration, 2016). Besides, the article explains in detail how the social security system operates. The social security system works in such a way that when individuals are working, they are mandated to pay taxes into the system so that the money can be used to benefit various people in the society. Such people include retired individuals, physically challenged people, individuals who depend on the beneficiaries and survivors of employees who have succumbed to death (Social Security Administration, 2016). The good thing with social security is that any person is eligible as long as he/she is working and capable of paying taxes into the system. Kaiser Family Foundation: Medicare at a Glance The above article provides a detailed analysis of Medicare so that readers can comprehend how it works and its structures formation. The article starts by defining Medicare so that readers can understand the content of the paper. For instance, as a federal health insurance program, Medicare was established in 1965 to help individuals aged 65 and above, irrespective of their medical history or income (Fact Sheet, 2014). Apart from the definition, the article also provides the structure of the Medicare program including Part A, B, C, D and the group of people and services it covers. Part A of the Medicare program comprises of hospice care, home health visits and skilled nursing facility stays. Part B of the Medicare covers home health visits, preventive services, outpatient services, and physician services. However, those who are entitled to these benefits are subjected to cost sharing and to deductibles (Fact Sheet, 2014). Part C, on the other hand, provides individuals with an opport unity to register for a private health plan including Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Once individuals are registered with these private health plans, they are automatically entitled to benefits that Medicare covers in Part A and Part B including Part D benefits. Some of the benefits that Part D offers patients with include outpatient prescription drugs, including Medicare Advantage drug plans and stand-alone prescription drug plans (Kolber, 2009). However, enrollment in this program is voluntary whereby individuals are mandated to pay monthly fees and for prescriptions, cost sharing is encouraged. The program also provides beneficiaries, to be precise those with modest assets and low incomes, with financial assistance. Despite the benefits that Medicare provides to its enrollees, it faces various challenges. Some of these challenges include increasing out-of-pocket costs, increased spending resulting in other programs being affected such as education, defense, environmental protection, and health and safety (PBS, 2010). Regardless of the challenges, Medicare needs to be improved and strengthened because it is enhancing the quality of care provided to patients. Through the Affordable Care Act, a majority of Americans can access quality and affordable care. References Fact Sheet. (2014). Medicare at a Glance. Retrieved from, https://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/1066-17-medicare-at-a-glance.pdf Kolber, M.S. (2009). Opacity and Cost Effectiveness Analysis in Medicare Coverage Decisions: Health Policy Encounters Administrative Law. Food Drug Law Journal, 64(3):515-530. PBS. (2010). Challenges Facing Medicare. Retrieved from, https://www-tc.pbs.org/now/classroom/challenges.pdf Social Security Administration. (2016). Social Security Understanding the Benefits. Retrieved from, https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10024.pdf