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DURING THIS COURSE YOU LEARNED THAT MEDICARE IS A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM TO PAY 80% OF THE MEDICAL BILLS OF SENIORS OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE OR DISABLED PERSONS OF ANY AGE. THE REMAINING 20% CAN BE COVERED BY THE MEDICAID PROGRAM FOR LOW-INCOME SENIORS OR THE DISABLED. MEDICAID IS PAID BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT ADMINISTERED BY EACH INDIVIDUAL STATE. BUT WHAT HAPPENS TO INDIVIDUALS WHO STRUGGLE TO PAY THE 20% THAT MEDICARE DOES NOT COVER BUT WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID? MEDIGAP INSURANCE IS PRIVATE INSURANCE AVAILABLE TO COVER 20% WHILE THE PATIENT CAN STILL REMAIN ON ORIGINAL MEDICARE. MEDIGAP INSURANCE CAN RANGE IN PRICE BUT IS NOT CHEAP. UNDER PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH, PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES WERE ABLE TO OFFER SO-CALLED "MEDICARE ADVANTAGE" INSURANCE. ALTHOUGH MEDICARE IS IN THE TITLE, THIS IS PRIVATE INSURANCE AND THE PEOPLE SIGNING UP FOR THIS INSURANCE ARE LEAVING THE GOVERNMENT MEDICARE PROGRAM. UNFORTUNATELY, MANY DON'T REALIZE THIS IS HAPPENING. THERE IS A BILL BEFORE CONGRESS TO REMOVE THE MEDICARE LABEL FROM THESE PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS SO PEOPLE WILL NOT BE CONFUSED AND REALIZE THAT THEY ARE NOW COVERED BY PRIVATE INSURANCE. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS BILL? ON THE ONE HAND THE COST MAY BE LOWER BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THESE PRIVATE COMPANIES CAN REFUSE TO COVER MANY PROCEDURES. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DISCUSS THIS DILEMMA IN ONE PARAGRAPH OR MORE.