This is the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. For 50 years, Medicare and Medicaid have provided more than just a safety net – they have provided a lifeline to millions of Americans. These programs serve those who are most in need, and they have made a tremendous difference in the lives of so many, but also a difference in how we think about our social responsibility in this country.
US Congressman Joe Crowley says “We have moved so far from the days when seniors were going without health care because they couldn’t afford insurance, and from the days when working families worried about how to get health care for their children. Now we must keep that going for the next generation.
With Medicare and Medicaid, the US government made a promise to take care of those who need health care the most – a promise we continued with the Affordable Care Act, but that work is far from done.
CITY IMAGES salutes all who will fight to ensure that the next 50 years are marked by the same kind of progress and commitment to strengthening health care in this country as the past 50 years. Stand up to those who would do away with the guarantee of Medicare, ot would undermine Medicaid, and shred our nation’s social safety net into threads.
There are 2 main ways to get your Medicare coverage — Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C). Use these steps to help you decide which way you want to get your coverage. Before you make a decision, you can get local, personalized Medicare counseling from the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new set of outreach and educational materials (called Living Well) to help Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies and partners emphasize the importance of the preventive services Medicaid and CHIP offer, like checkups, vaccines and screenings. The materials feature ready-to-use, posters, fact sheets, and social media posts, as well as tips for implementation.
The Health Insurance Marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act allows consumers to compare health insurance plans based on key factors, such as covered services, providers, and importantly, price. According to a report released today, choice and competition increased in the 2015 Marketplace and consumers benefitted as new issuers entered and price competition intensified. In 2015, 86 percent of Marketplace-eligible consumers could choose from at least three issuers, up from 70 percent in 2014.
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