Question 1

Which of the following best fits the concept of social insurance?
A) a program that provides minimal benefits to people below poverty level
B) a program that provides economic security and is based on the concept of earned entitlement
C) indirect payments to individuals through the tax system
D) health insurance for working-age people provided through their employers

Accepted Answer

Social insurance is a type of government program aimed at providing economic security to citizens by basing benefits on the principle of earned entitlement. These benefits are typically funded by current workers through payroll taxes, and the benefits are distributed to individuals who have paid into the system over their working lives. Examples of social insurance programs include Social Security and Medicare in the United States.

Question 2

Public assistance programs provide minimal benefits for the very needy.

Accepted Answer

Public assistance programs may provide some benefits for those in need, but they are often minimal and may not be enough to truly lift someone out of poverty.

Question 3

Physicians have a role in determining if applicants for Disability Insurance meet the criteria for benefits. There are several problems with determining eligibility. Which of the following is not one of these factors?
A) Doctors must know not only the individual's impairment but also what abilities her/his job requires.
B) For many people, there are no clear organic impairments.
C) Some people with a given impairment may be able to work, while others may not.
D) Doctors must be able to document thoroughly the cause of impairment.

Accepted Answer

While documentation of the cause of impairment is important, it is not one of the problems with determining eligibility. The other options listed all present challenges for physicians in determining if applicants meet the criteria for Disability Insurance benefits.

Question 4

Once an individual is awarded Disability Insurance benefits, he or she may receive them until medical recovery or:
A) return to work.
B) up to six months.
C) up to one year.
D) up to two years.

Accepted Answer

Disability Insurance benefits can be received until medical recovery or until the individual returns to work, whichever comes first. There is no set time limit for how long benefits can be received.

Question 5

Medicaid was the first social welfare program that was introduced in the United States in 1930.

Accepted Answer

Medicaid was actually introduced in 1965, as part of the Social Security Amendments under President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Great Society" initiative. The first social welfare program in the US was actually the Social Security Act of 1935, which established old-age pensions and unemployment insurance.

Question 6

Tax expenditures are most likely to benefit the working class in the United States.

Accepted Answer

Tax expenditures, such as deductions and credits, often benefit higher-income earners more than the working class. This is because they are frequently based on the amount of income earned, making them inaccessible to low-income households who are less likely to itemize deductions or have large amounts of taxable income. Additionally, tax expenditures that primarily benefit the working class, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit, are often smaller in scale compared to those that largely benefit higher-income earners.

Question 7

Which of the following is not a barrier in the use of senior centers by the elderly?
A) lack of transportation
B) lack of culturally sensitive programs
C) lack of professional staff
D) lack of knowledge about the centers

Accepted Answer

Lack of professional staff is not listed as a barrier in the use of senior centers by the elderly. A, B, and D are all commonly recognized barriers in accessing senior centers.

Question 8

A type of long-term care service is:
A) nursing care.
B) physician service.
C) home health care.
D) recreational therapy.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A type of long-term care service is:
A)...

Question 9

The main source of public funding for long-term care is:
A) Medicare.
B) private long-term-care insurance.
C) Medicaid.
D) home and community-based services program.

Accepted Answer

Medicaid is the main source of public funding for long-term care. Medicare provides limited coverage for long-term care and is primarily for short-term stays in skilled nursing facilities or for home health care following a hospitalization. Private long-term-care insurance is an option for those who can afford it and have purchased a policy, but it is not a public funding source. Home and community-based services programs are often funded through Medicaid or grants, but they do not provide the same level of funding as Medicaid for long-term care.

Question 10

The Older Americans Act (OAA) _____.
A) provided services to enhance independent living, including meals, personal care, and meals-on-wheels
B) established the Social Security program
C) established Medicare and Medicaid
D) provided funding for nursing home care for the frail elderly

Accepted Answer

The Older Americans Act (OAA) provides funding and support for a range of services designed to help seniors aged 60 and older maintain their independence and quality of life. These services include meal delivery programs, in-home care, transportation assistance, caregiver support, and more. The other answer choices (B, C, and D) are incorrect as they refer to other federal programs related to social security, healthcare, and nursing home care.

Question 11

The _____ component of housing policy expands the supply of low-income housing through a provision known as Section 8.
A) tax expenditure
B) tax deduction
C) subsidy
D) home share

Accepted Answer

The subsidy component of housing policy, specifically Section 8, expands the supply of low-income housing through financial assistance to renters. The other options are not directly related to creating affordable housing.

Question 12

In practice, social insurance increases inequality in old age.

Accepted Answer

Social insurance programs, such as pensions and healthcare for the elderly, are designed to reduce economic inequality in old age by providing financial support and access to services that individuals might not be able to afford on their own.

Question 13

A problem related to private long-term-care insurance is that it:
A) is unavailable to people who are above the age of 75.
B) does not give any tax credit to people who pay their insurance premiums.
C) lacks enough regulation to ensure the financial stability of the insurance plans.
D) is only available to women and children.

Accepted Answer

Private long-term-care insurance lacks enough regulation to ensure the financial stability of the insurance plans. This has led to issues such as some insurance companies going bankrupt and policyholders losing their coverage. While choices A and B are potential issues with private long-term-care insurance, they are not the main problem. Choice D is not accurate as private long-term-care insurance is available to both men and women.

Question 14

One of the services not provided by the Older Americans Act is:
A) dental care.
B) day care.
C) meals-on-wheels.
D) personal care.

Accepted Answer

The Older Americans Act provides a variety of services to older adults, but dental care is not typically one of the services covered under this act. Services like day care, meals-on-wheels, and personal care are commonly provided to support the health and well-being of older adults.

Question 15

The Supplemental Security Income disability program is operated by:
A) the states.
B) the federal government.
C) the federal government and the states.
D) private agencies.

Accepted Answer

The Supplemental Security Income disability program is operated and administered by the federal government, specifically the Social Security Administration. While the program is partially funded by the federal government, it is intended to be administered at the federal level, providing consistent benefits and criteria across all states. Private agencies are not involved in the operation or administration of the program.

Question 16

A country that has been a pioneer in designing and implementing a long-term-care program that promotes health care and reduces institutionalization is:
A) Denmark.
B) France.
C) Japan.
D) Norway.

Accepted Answer

Denmark has been recognized as a pioneer in designing and implementing a long-term-care program that promotes healthcare and reduces institutionalization. This program is known as the 'Danish Model,' and it emphasizes the provision of nursing care in a home setting rather than in a hospital or institutionalized setting. The Danish government's goal is to provide all citizens with the best possible care, regardless of their age or health condition. This program has been successful in promoting independence and improving the quality of life for seniors.

Question 17

There are variations in the cost for private long-term-care insurance. Which of the following is not one of these variations?
A) age of person
B) person's health
C) type of policy
D) gender of person

Accepted Answer

Gender is not typically used as a variation in the cost of private long-term-care insurance. The other options, age, health, and type of policy, are commonly used to determine the cost of insurance.

Question 18

An ideal housing policy would provide a continuum of services. These services would range from:
A) independent to community-based care.
B) independent to institutional care.
C) semi-independent to community-based care.
D) semi-independent to institutional care.

Accepted Answer

An ideal housing policy would encompass a range of services from independent living situations to institutional care, ensuring that individuals can receive the appropriate level of support as their needs change.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes Medicare?
A) a health insurance program for people 65 and older
B) a needs-based health insurance program
C) an income support program for retirees
D) a program that pays for the nursing home care for the oldest-old

Accepted Answer

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). It is not a needs-based program, an income support program, or specifically for nursing home care.

Question 20

There is currently a debate related to who should be eligible to receive social benefits. Some people feel that _____ should be the criterion for receiving such benefits.
A) need
B) income
C) health status
D) age

Accepted Answer

The answer of There is currently a debate related to...

Quiz 5: Old Age and the Welfare State

Which of the following best fits the concept of social insurance?

Public assistance programs provide minimal benefits for the very needy.

Physicians have a role in determining if applicants for Disability Insurance meet the criteria for benefits. There are several problems with determining eligibility. Which of the following is not one of these factors?

Once an individual is awarded Disability Insurance benefits, he or she may receive them until medical recovery or:

Medicaid was the first social welfare program that was introduced in the United States in 1930.

Tax expenditures are most likely to benefit the working class in the United States.

Which of the following is not a barrier in the use of senior centers by the elderly?

A type of long-term care service is:

The main source of public funding for long-term care is:

The Older Americans Act (OAA) _____.

The _____ component of housing policy expands the supply of low-income housing through a provision known as Section 8.

In practice, social insurance increases inequality in old age.

A problem related to private long-term-care insurance is that it:

One of the services not provided by the Older Americans Act is:

The Supplemental Security Income disability program is operated by:

A country that has been a pioneer in designing and implementing a long-term-care program that promotes health care and reduces institutionalization is:

There are variations in the cost for private long-term-care insurance. Which of the following is not one of these variations?

An ideal housing policy would provide a continuum of services. These services would range from:

Which of the following best describes Medicare?

There is currently a debate related to who should be eligible to receive social benefits. Some people feel that _____ should be the criterion for receiving such benefits.