Silver Planet™ Help Your Parents Age in Place.

Understanding Medicare can be quite a task. I’m going to briefly explain the basics, as well as what some of the new changes will mean. Most of this information is from Medicare.gov, which is an excellent, but often overwhelming, resource.

“If you want an example of a successful single-payer system, just look at Medicare,” many say.

I say, not really.

A single-payer system is the form of universal health care Canada and Great Britain use. Several groups are advocating for it. People on the right tend to view it as socialized medicine at its worst. Many on the left think it’s ideal. President Obama has tried to distance himself—and his plan—from it, frustrating some Democrats.

Most people have little interest in budgets and policies that impact services to older adults—until the issue becomes personal. When Mom or Dad needs home care or adult day services or a nursing home, families suddenly sit up and pay attention. And that is a good thing.