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Social Security in US

The US is the only industrial nation not providing a national social security system.

People could not be helped because they should help themselves.

In August 1959, Roosevelt experienced a great depression (???)

He established two insurance programs: The Federal something and the publicat something (Presentator was pretty fast)

Reserved Fund (???)

In 1935, there was a industrial occupation,

1939, the year of the survival workers.

1950: fulltime farmers, domestics, employees and non-profit were included in the federal program as well

later on, the selfemployed too (???)

the age for early retirement has been lowered from 55 years to 52 years

- the system is financed by Tax from the whole population, and
- pays out to everyone, regardless of need

There is an unemployment insurance. The maximum limits depend on the state one lives in.

In Massachusets (I know I wrote that wrong) it is 26 weeks, in Washington (easier to write) 32 weeks.

Since 1954, about 70 wellfare programs outsidfe the local security have been established.

AFDC: 14 million members

Child have to live in the home of the parents to be covered.

Total benefits: about 23 billion dollars

Medic Aid: about 53 million members

Established in 1956, centers on Medicare and Medic Health Services

Medicare

SSI

min income (???)

1974: 6 mio americans

Food Stamp program

- nutrition program
- school milk program
- public Housing program

Health care

- Mixed program
- employment based health services
- company based

about 40 percent of the US population do not benefit from any health program!

Medicare and Mediaid are for the elderly / very poor

22 percent of cost paid out of own pocket in 1991

hospital 3.5 percent self consitution, medication 55 percent self constitution

presidents

Bill Clinton wanted universal private health coverage, but that has been rejected in 1994.

Ronald Reggan Introduced FTC, canceled the Foods Stamp Program. Thus he

- lowered the cost of wellfare
- lowered taxes
-helped Americans find more jobs

Bush Senior did neither any improvement, nor any cut. He forced states to cut AFDC.

Bill Clinton was a social reformer. Educations and job were important.

Racial Debate

black / hispanic benefit most

The Future

1960 40 workers - 1 benefit
2003 3.3 workers - 1 benefit
2040 System bancrupt - Bush tries to find new system without tax raise. Increase age of retirement? Don't only pay based on wages but price-index

Notes from Mr. Filek

about 20 percent have private / personal health insurance

about 60 percent have group insurance. Example IBM: health insurance for workers and their families

about 20 percent do not have health insurance, but that is really hard to say

Some people have Medic Aid or other programs. Medic aid gets less money every year and is not really an insurance. Money goes to institution, not the individual. Basically charity!

Emergency Room (the tv series): Chicago, most not going to pay for their care.

Medicare: individual is insurance

Many states have medical insurance programs. The American situation is complicated.

HMO Health Maintenance Organization (worst than any soncialised medication)

Socialised medicine: almost like going to hell

Florida: rIMO worse than the Krankenkassa. Large number of doctors, first go to HMO.

MediCare?: starting at 60ies, fairly good program.

Group insurance: Same level for everyone!

Baby Boomers

born 1946 to 1953, are retiring very soon. They were the homecomers from world war 2, who wanted to have families.

Bush: would like individual accounts, passed on to children.

(Current) Basically: every one pays into a pool - big discussion in us

Tax: Saving programs that are tax-deductible.

Last modified 2005-03-31 20:12 by rck