Maintain Medicare: How To Start And What You Need To Do
Maintain Medicare As Isto Start You Will Need To Craft Your Initial A
Maintain Medicare as is. To start, you will need to craft your initial argument in support of the side you have been assigned based on your last name (either maintain or reform). This post must be a minimum of 300 words. Describe how the organization and delivery of Medicare and the social, financial, legal, ethical, and regulatory forces impact your side of the debate. Remember, your post must analyze how these factors work together to support your assigned view on Medicare reform. Even if you do not personally agree with the side that has been assigned to you, you must still present a convincing argument that upholds that side in your initial post and your responses.
Then, you will respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts who were assigned the opposite side of the debate. Each of your responses should analyze how the differing stances on funding Medicare affect the cost, quality, access, and provision of services. Your responses to your classmates should present a counter-argument, where as a supporter of your assigned side, you give reasons for why you disagree with them based on pertinent information. You are strongly encouraged to review this week’s recommended reading and to research on your own to identify other sources to support your argument. Your initial post must include: A succinct thesis statement that demonstrates your stance on the topic. A clear explanation for your rationale and examples to support your view. A minimum of two scholarly, peer-reviewed sources. One of these sources may be from the course Required and/or Recommended Resources, and at least one must be obtained through the Ashford University Library.
Paper For Above instruction
The debate over maintaining or reforming Medicare centers on the organization, delivery, and the overarching regulatory, social, financial, legal, and ethical factors that influence healthcare policy and access for seniors in the United States. As per the assignment, I support maintaining the current structure of Medicare, emphasizing stability, existing legal frameworks, and the social contract that ensures health coverage for retirees.
The organization and delivery model of Medicare operates through a federally funded program that provides health insurance mainly to individuals over the age of 65 (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2021). Maintaining the status quo ensures that beneficiaries continue to receive care without disruptions, which is critical for a vulnerable population. The delivery system involves numerous providers, from hospitals to outpatient clinics, governed by regulations that ensure certain standards of quality and accountability. Legal frameworks, such as the Medicare Act of 1965, serve as a foundation that supports the continuity of benefits, while social forces—the societal expectation that the government safeguards the health of older adults—bolster the argument for preservation over radical reforms.
Financially, maintaining Medicare preserves the existing funding mechanisms—predominantly payroll taxes, premiums, and general revenue—that have proven effective in sustaining coverage for decades. Reforms such as privatization or privatized delivery models could introduce uncertainties in funding, potentially increasing costs and disparities in access. Ethical considerations also favor maintaining the current system, which respects the social contract and the rights of seniors to reliable healthcare without the risk of diminished benefits or increased out-of-pocket expenses. Moreover, regulatory agencies work to enforce standards that protect recipients and adapt to demographic challenges, such as aging populations and rising healthcare costs.
In conclusion, supporting the maintenance of Medicare aligns with a desire for stability, legal consistency, and social equity. The combined social, legal, financial, and regulatory forces reinforce the current structure as an effective means to ensure access to essential healthcare for seniors while protecting the integrity of the program from potentially destabilizing reforms.
References
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2021). Medicare Overview. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/medicare-overview
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2022). The Future of Medicare. https://www.kff.org/medicare/
Levy, H., & Jena, A. B. (2019). Medicare spending and policy. JAMA, 322(5), 423–424.
Marmor, T. R. (2018). The Social and Political Context of Medicare. Health Affairs, 37(4), 561–567.
Rudowitz, R., & Cox, C. (2020). The Cost of Aging Populations and Medicare Challenges. The Commonwealth Fund. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2020/aug/cost-aging-populations-and-medicare-challenges