Medicare is the name given to a health insurance program administered by the United States government, covering people who are either age 65 and over, or who meet other special criteria. It was originally signed into law on July 30, 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson as amendments to Social Security legislation. At the bill-signing ceremony President Johnson enrolled former President Harry S. Truman as the first Medicare beneficiary and presented him with the first Medicare card.[1]
Contents [hide]
1 Administration
2 Taxes imposed to finance Medicare
3 Cost
4 Eligibility
5 Benefits
5.1 Part A: Hospital Insurance
5.2 Part B: Medical Insurance
5.3 Part C: Medicare Advantage plans
5.4 Part D: Prescription Drug plans
6 Out-of-pocket costs
6.1 Premiums
6.2 Deductible and Coinsurance
7 Payment for services
7.1 Reimbursement for Part A services
7.2 Reimbursement for Part B services
7.2.1 Office medication reimbursement
8 Criticism
9 Legislation and reform
10 Legislative Oversight
11 See also
12 References
13 External links
13.1 Governmental links - current
13.2 Governmental links - historical
13.3 Non-governmental links
[edit] Administration
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), administers Medicare, Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Along with the Departments of Labor and Treasury, CMS also implements the insurance reform provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The Social Security Administration is responsible for determining Medicare ...