Introduction
The health care sector in America is one of the expensive undertakings the government appropriate funds from the budget. The main goal is to attend to the needs of its citizens especially the Geriatric population, which is frequently ill. However, there is little education regarding President Obama’s free health care program. Following this, there have been many perceptions, thoughts and framing effects surrounding the matter especially in the elderly generation.
How hospital will benefit from the adoption of the approach
According to the Medicare program initiated by president Obama, the elderly will be expected to pay higher premiums compared to other groups in the society because of their health conditions. Since many are afraid to enjoy the benefit of the program, they have a perception that the more the visit hospitals for treatment or checkup, the more they will pay. Therefore, they have developed a negative perception based on the little knowledge they have regarding the entire plan (Don, 2009). This has been the reason why many have failed to make decisions whether they should be members of such a program or not; hence, avoided revisiting health facilities.
Since most of them have taken long to save some little assets, which might help them throughout their remaining time, they feel that they cannot spend a sizable amount on Medicare programs. As a result, they are reluctant or reduce the number of times they visit health facilities.
There have been framing effects among the elderly group as it regards to Medicare program. Many have a feeling or thoughts that, since the program “is free” then they cannot access quality services at most of the health services. In Canada, in an elderly home, some opted to utilize the services of domestic nurses instead of visiting health facilities. According to them, they the time they spend waiting for health services, is long; therefore, they cannot go to hospital or they do not make frequent visits (Richard & Maggie, 2008). This benefits health facilities in a way that they can have time to attend to other patients.
The memory of the elderly group is usually full of criticism because of the experience they have had throughout their lifetime. Following this, they do not confidence about “this new generation” medical plans; it is an unattainable. Such discoveries and perceptions about free medical health care reduce the number of times they visit hospitals (Don, 2009). Some, who succumbed to psychological disorders or minor illnesses, have psychologically healed because of their perception about new programs in the health care system.
There is usually an inherent behavior among the elderly group regarding new technology or changes, which might affect their social or economic welfare. The effect of tax increment, especially to the aged made them discover that they more one visits health facilities, they more he/she is taxed indirectly. These discoveries have raised heated debates among members of this group, who have felt that the government is discriminating them.
Conclusion
The old generation usually have a negative perception of any free benefit accrued from a given services or activity tailored to improve their welfare. Lack of enough information regarding President Obama’s Medicare plan has made the aged come up with their own discoveries and thoughts that, the number of times they visit health facilities determine the premium they pay for this program.
References
Don, D. (2009). Heuristics and Biases in Medical Decision-Making. Journal of Medical Education, 53(8), 282-284.
Richard, W., Maggie, T., & E., S. K. (2008). Heuristics and Biases as Measures of Critical Thinking: Associations with Cognitive Ability and Thinking Dispositions. Journal of Educational Psychology, 100(4), 930-941.
