Medicare & You: Ways to Save Money

Important information about ways to save money on your Medicare coverage.

[PaulaShirley-sk]

Trying to set up an account why you can't just can't set up anaccount

[patsyjohnson]

How much can you make and get Medicare

[patriciachalifoux]

I applied for MSP and have not heard any outcome. This was a couple months ago just before the virus changed everyone’s life . I understand if there is a delay, but wouldn’t I hear something one way or another?

[gregsimpson]

They give you Medicaid assistance on income which I qualify. But if you have anything in a 401K or IRA your screwed. But you can own a home and get help. I lost my house to avoid bankruptcy so I now don't own a home. But because I have an IRA, nothing. And I spend $1, 000 out of pocket for prescriptions WITH a prescription plan. So a person can own a million dollar house and get all kinds of assistance.

[scott]

HEALTH CARE : Europe vs America
 
WHATS IN IT FOR THE GOVERNMENTs and THE PATIENTS and why EUROPE WINS
 
European system costs 11% of GDP against 19% in the USA
 
EU HEALTH CARE IS ALL INCLUDED
 
THE USA NOT & WHY SO COMPLICATED???
 
USA life expectancy is 42th in the world on the world ratings.
 
WHATS IN IT FOR THE EU PATIENT?
 
If you pay taxes, as an individual, and contribute to the central government “POT” (the community POT of money).
You are covered for all treatment, hospital costs, surgery, drugs, implants, chemo, post op therapies, cost of prescribed drugs, specialist and normal GP doctors bills, specialist bills etc etc.
(There are some small exceptions.)
 
You dont have to look at the small print of coverage.
Its all included, pocket your credit card.. you dont need it.
You dont have to pay in advance
NO Paperwork
The system is rated as better than the American system as nobody is excluded and the system covers 99% of all patient needs.
 
THE EUROPEAN SYSTEM:
 
HOW IT WORKS:
All european health systems are government run and are simple systems .
It is a central, run by the govenment covering all healthcare needs for the population and is non profit, universal, and also internationally recognised between all EU countries.
The EU underlying system is through fiscal residency of a person, (ie you pay into the employment tax system of the country you live and into health system, if you are registered or unemployed you are covered)
Simply put, each person pays into the THE GOVENMENT POT as a % of individual pay packet contributions where you are employed
Importantly even if you are unemployed, but registered, you control illegal immigration. Illegals get no benefits, unless humanitarian emergency.
Importantly you are still covered. you as a patient get equal rights and coverage across Europe.
 
The EU system is state run, and covers everyone, from birth to death and costs half of the USA system.
Therefore in the USA a % of the health cost is based on profit to be paid out in dividends.
 
Additionallly not all people in the USA are covered, (approximately 15%)
Its a Bum deal for Americans. It costs 8-9% of GDP more than Europe
 
HOW IT IS MANAGED:
In America USA, the health system is profit run for the most part and privately handled. Patient care is secondary to profit for 50% of coverage.
The European state (country) is the employer of all health staff, doctors, nurses, etc.
 
Central government then covers the hospitals costs through a system which keeps the hospitals covered for the expenses of each patient.
If we compare the EU to the USA structure in terms of cost to GDP, Europe average 11% of GDP to the USA 20% of GDP, (2019) with the EU at 99% coverage and with improved life expectancy rate, compared to the USA.
Central Government in each country collects the money through the taxes you pay as a citizen, and redistributes it (generally) to regions, hospitals, and doctors etc which then distributes the funds to the health system used by the patient.
The Government also allows the private sector to operate under the public system, to build hospitals, run them privately.
Each country allows this in different rules, like Germany/UK/France etc. They are then licence them to operate by the government.
But importantly, the patient who pays to the state contributions through his salary, has equal rights to access all hospitals.
10-15 % of the EU health system is private
 
If you wish to pay an additional supplement to the state system, you are allowed to do this into to the private scheme on top of your mandatory state payments so you get private health care coverage.
 
But you cannot opt out of the central system or add to it.
Most of people dont have the means or desire to pay private insurance policies. So the state system is better for them.
 
WHATS THE BENEFIT
Basically the EU system covers 99% of people and costs the half of the USA system.
In addition to this, with the EU system, if you pay contributions to the health system in the UK or France, you can have full medical care in other countries, Germany, Italy, Hungary or any other of the 27 states etc.
 
If you lose your job, you will still be covered. you just pay less to the system as unemployment reimbusement to you is less, so you pay less, but the more you earn at work, the more you contribute to the central system. Its based on % of earnings.
 
These European systems are based on the old and original UK system, The National Health Service, abbreviated to NHS, was launched by the then Minister of Health in Attlee's post-war government, Aneurin Bevan, at the Park Hospital in Manchester. Aneurin Bevan, Minister of Health, on the first day of the National Health Service, 5 July 1948 at Park Hospital, Davyhulme, near Manchester.
 
THE REAL ISSUE
1. EU Health is non political, non profit, more efficient and cheaper that the USA system,
 
2. BETTER in many ways, as the patient is first, and health has no “profit COST”.
 
3. It reduces the cost to the Government. (11% against the USA 20% per year GDP)
 
4. Its not fragmented. Its coverage is national, and for all.
 
5. If you are REGISTERED as a TAX payer, you have no problems.
 
6. If you are clandestine, then you get some emergency humanitarian services only.
 
Thus the authorities know who you are and send you home after.
 
Thanks for the comments!!!!

[mariejdidomenico]

I wanted to know if you can pay my medicare medical insurance ?

[ODwaine]

When your subject is Medicare: don't talk about Medicaid….

[rujiabegum]

Who pay my doctors visit I have no extra capacity but madicare card I dont no medicate only medicare

[PaulaShirley-sk]

To many apps just want to pay my bill stop lying you know you all are dealing with the elderly make it easy