For the tens of millions of Americans who have lost their jobs, there is another frightening reality to absorb: amid a global health pandemic, they no longer have health insurance.
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Just in time for the upcoming anniversary of The 1935 Social Security (SS) Act, the 2017 Annual Report of the Board of the Social Security Trustees is out and once again, the news is sobering. “Both Social Security and Medicare face long-term financing shortfalls under currently scheduled benefits and financing.” Additionally, the debate over health care has put Medicaid in the spotlight, so it’s time for a Q&A on three of the largest components of the federal budget, which account for about $2.4 trillion of spending.How is SS funded? It’s a pay as you go system, funded by payroll taxes (the FICA line item you see on your pay stub). Every employee (and employer) pays a 6.2 percent tax on earnings up to a limit, which is currently $127,200. If you are self-employed, you have to pay as both the employer and the employee, for a total of 12.4 percent.
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By now you have seen the headlines, but to understand the full impact of the Senate Health Care bill (Better Care Reconciliation Act), here is a Q&A that dives into some of the numbers of the current version of the plan. What is Medicaid? Medicaid is the country’s largest government health care program, covering about 20 percent (74 million) of all Americans, including:
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Genworth Financial released its long-term care Cost of Care Survey for 2013 and the results are sobering. The cost of home care providers, adult day health care facilities, assisted living facilities and nursing homes has been steadily rising over the past 5 years.
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