A 38-year-old recently homeless woman and her 35-year-old boyfriend come to a community clinic seeking care for her pregnancy at 27 weeks. She also brings her 19-year-old son, who has cerebral palsy and has not had consistent medical care. The patient explains to the social worker that the family was recently evicted from their apartment for failure to pay rent after her boyfriend lost his job. Which of these individuals is eligible for Medicare coverage?

Question

A 38-year-old recently homeless woman and her 35-year-old boyfriend come to a community clinic seeking care for her pregnancy at 27 weeks.  She also brings her 19-year-old son, who has cerebral palsy and has not had consistent medical care.  The patient explains to the social worker that the family was recently evicted from their apartment for failure to pay rent after her boyfriend lost his job.  Which of these individuals is eligible for Medicare coverage?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Medicare is a federal socialized medical insurance program that covers select individuals. It provides health insurance for patients age 65 and older who have worked and paid into the system (ie, have paid taxes). Individuals must also hold residence and citizenship in the United States. Medicare also covers younger individuals with disabilities, end-stage renal disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Medicare consists of several parts, with Part A covering inpatient hospital visits, Part B covering a select number of outpatient services and medical devices, Part C as an optional capitated plan with additional benefits (vision, dental), and Part D as an optional prescription drug plan. Medicare is different from Medicaid, a state-run medical insurance program that covers the homeless, undocumented immigrants, pregnant women, and low-income families. In this situation, only the disabled son would be eligible for Medicare. (Choices A, B, C, and E) The pregnant woman, her boyfriend, and the child (when born) can be covered by Medicaid only, not Medicare. Educational objective: Medicare is a federal socialized medical insurance program that covers individuals age 65 and older who have a work history and younger individuals with disabilities. __________ References: Special issues for younger Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12675050)

A 38-Year-Old Recently Homeless Woman and Her 35-Year-Old Boyfriend Come