Avere Healthcare Clinic asks "who will take care of senior citizens?" – LIVING WELL Magazine

Who Will Take Care of Senior Citizens?

Courtesy Avere Healthcare Clinic, Denton LIVING WELL Magazine

Statistics show most Medicare recipients don’t understand what Medicare is all about. This leads to frustration, which causes seniors to likely defer preventative care and skip necessary doctor’s visits. The average senior doesn’t know when they need a colonoscopy, and most certainly isn’t particularly eager to find out!

What’s that red, white and blue Medicare card in your wallet all about? The basic Medicare package is split into three parts: Part A covers hospital care only. Part B covers medical health care, including services like doctor visits, x-ray and lab work. Some of these services have no deductible, while others do. Part D covers prescription drugs. It typically has a monthly premium as well as a co-pay for prescribed medications. It sounds simple but remains confusing.

In 1965, the Social Security Act established both Medicare and Medicaid. The Social Security Administration was responsible for Medicare, while Federal assistance to the State Medicaid programs was administered by the Social and Rehabilitation Service. President Johnson signed the Medicare and Medicaid Bill in the presence of former President Truman, who received the first Medicare card at the ceremony. President Johnson remarked: “We marvel not simply at the passage of this bill but that it took so many years to pass it.”

How did we get from that to where we are today? These days you can’t turn the television on without hearing negative remarks about the economy. It’s very unsettling to hear politicians talking about proposed Medicare cuts to help control the deficit. It’s no surprise Americans across all generational lines flat out reject the idea of cut-backs to the Social Security and Medicare programs they’ve paid into their entire lives to reduce the deficit. It leaves many to wonder, “Who will take care of senior citizens?”

At Avere Healthcare Clinic, we’re pleased to welcome patients with Medicare and strive to provide the quality of care our senior citizens deserve. Who will take care of our senior citizens? We will, and consider it an honor to do so. You can reach us at 940-387-7300.