Medicare is a health insurance program administered by the federal government for the elderly.  It was created in 1965 as part of the Social Security Act and is financed by a separate tax on wages.

Medicare is available to citizens over the age of 64 and those with some disabilities.  It presently covers tens of millions of Americans and has become a major federal government budget item with out-of-control growth.  Both Part A and Part B are funded from the U.S. Government's general fund but Part B also receives some payments that are deducted from covered retirees social security checks.

There are two parts to Medicare.  Part A covers hospital visits and Part B covers doctor's visits and related services.  Both parts contain deductibles and requires co-pays from the insured.  Some insurance companies offer private insurance policies to fill in the gaps omitted by Medicare.

Medicare pays physicians for their services based upon the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale.  Doctors often complain that Medicare payments do not reflect the market rate for services and some may not be willing to discount their services.

Fraudulent services continue to plague the Medicare system.  Some doctors and hospitals have defrauded the system by claiming payment for services not performed.  It is estimated that fraudulent claims are costing Medicare (and us taxpayers) tens of billions of dollars.

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Throw Them All Out
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Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness
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The Age of Austerity: How Scarcity Will Remake American Politics
by Thomas Byrne Edsall
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Medicare News
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• Hospitals Face Medicare Penalties For Readmissions The Tennessean
Hospitals face Medicare penalties for readmissionsThe TennesseanMedicare39s new penalty system, which takes effect next fall, is designed to prod hospitals to make sure patients get the care they need after discharge and to reduce the number of potentially avoidable readmissions, which by one estimate cost the and more raquo
• Medicare Advantage Enrollment In Phoenix And Maricopa County Tucson Citizen
Medicare Advantage Enrollment in Phoenix and Maricopa CountyTucson Citizen04, 2012, under Health In Maricopa County, 44 of Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. There are 21 Medicare Advantage plans available in Maricopa county that include Part D drug coverage. The plans listed below have the Feds investigating Medicare enrollment scheme in TucsonArizona Daily Starall 3 news articles raquo
• That Darn Mitt II Medicare Edition Boston.com
That Darn Mitt II Medicare EditionBoston.comNow, by the way, I understand a few of you here are on Medicare. Is that true Crowd laughs. That being the case, I hope you tell your friends who always fear that Republicans somehow might go after Medicare, you can tell them a couple of things.
• Medicare Advantage Premiums Decline As Enrollment Rises BusinessWeek
USA TODAYMedicare Advantage Premiums Decline as Enrollment RisesBusinessWeek1 Bloomberg Medicare Advantage plans have 9.4 percent higher enrollment than a year earlier and fees that are 7.2 percent lower, according to a US official who credited the 2010 health care law for the gains. In Medicare Advantage, people over age Medicare Advantage enrollment grows 10 as insurers competeFierceHealthPayerMedicare Advantage39s enrollment is up premiums are downUSA TODAYHHS: Medicare Advantage Enrollment Rises 10, Tops ViewsWall Street JournalWashington Post blogall 231 news articles raquo
• A Remedy For Runaway HealthCare Costs Barronaposs
ForbesA Remedy for Runaway Health Care CostsBarronapossBy ANDREW BARY MORE ARTICLES BY AUTHOR States are taking steps to coordinate care for quotdualsquot patients eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid coverage. That39s good news for patients, managed care companies like UnitedHealth and Humana, Medicaid reform is truly an urgent needLaurel Leader CallLouisiana rolls out new Medicaid managed care programFox NewsOIG: Cutting Medicare and Medicaid fraud still a top concernMcKnightaposs Long Term Care NewsForbes Daily Beast Monitorall 44 news articles raquo