We have been examining two proposals to expand Medicare and Medicaid by introducing universal health care coverage or allowing individuals to buy a private plan using Medicare and Medicaid efficiencies. The idea behind these proposals is to pass on the cost-savings of managed Medicare and Medicaid plans to all Americans. There are other proposals that have not received the same level of attention, however, which are other ways to address the overall problem of rising health care costs for care, treatment, and prescriptions.

Eliminate Employment-Sponsored Healthcare Plans

The Medicare for All plan envisions eliminating employment-sponsored healthcare plans and replacing it with a universal health insurance program. The only annual out of pocket expense is $200 to assist with prescription drug benefits. This means that employers would no longer provide health care coverage as an employee benefit.

Target Early Retirees

Another Bill would allow anyone over 50 to buy in to Medicare through a private health insurance plan that would offer plan participants cost-sharing benefits like tax credits and lower premiums.

Two other proposals getting attention are trying to add people currently left out of the Affordable Care Act or shut out of healthcare marketplaces. The main part of both proposals is to allow people to buy into government insurance or continue to buy private insurance to cover medical care and treatment not covered by Medicare. These proposals are as follows:

● Medicaid Extra for All is a proposal by the Center for American Progress offering a combination of private and public insurance health coverage options. The program is limited to legal residents and estimates are that it would take decades to bring all Americans on board.
● Healthy America, sponsored by the Urban Institute, is a plan that would provide health insurance coverage for 16 million people, not currently covered under the Affordable Healthcare Act. This plan is limited to legal U.S. citizens or residents.

Individuals suffering from chronic illnesses stand to benefit from all the proposed options. Affordable premiums would help pay for most of the medical care and treatment needed to manage chronic illnesses, like end-stage renal disease and Parkinson’s Disease. Also, in the Medicare for All or Medicare and Medicaid buy-in programs, coverage would be expanded to include vision and dental benefits, benefits currently excluded from Medicare coverage.

Find the best Elder Care Attorney New Jersey Near You

People face complex legal concerns as they age and enter retirement. An elder care attorney can assist with disability planning, durable powers of attorney, living trusts, drafting of wills and other estate plan documents, among many other legal concerns. Talk to an Elder Care Attorney in New Jersey today about health care proxies and Medicaid planning for long-term medical care.

The Giro Law Firm is a New Jersey and New York law firm located in Newark, NJ that handles a wide range of legal matters that affect the elderly and disabled populations, including retirement, guardianship, health care, long term care planning, Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid planning, among other legal services. To request a consultation with an Elder Care New Jersey Attorney, click here https://girolaw.com/ or call (201) 690-1642.