Top Ten Myths of Medicare

Richard L. Kaplan
2012 Social Science Research Network  
With the United States attempting to reduce its budgetary deficit and in light of recent health care reforms, Medicare has become one of the most controversial federal programs. Various misconceptions surround this important public initiative, and this Article seeks to debunk those misconceptions to facilitate an informed debate about the future of Medicare. Professor Kaplan addresses and debunks the following myths: (1) there is one Medicare program, (2) Medicare is going bankrupt, (3)
more » ... is government health care, (4) Medicare covers all medical costs for its beneficiaries, (5) Medicare pays for long term-care, (6) Medicare is politically immune to budgetary reduction, (7) Medicare wastes much of its money on futile care, (8) Medicare is less efficient than private health insurance, (9) Medicare is not means-tested, and (10) increased longevity will sink Medicare.
doi:10.2139/ssrn.2111535 fatcat:w7hyogq555dqrcljidak4m7mlm