Project Motorcycles The Comprehensive Project Plan Assignment

Project Motorcycles The Comprehensive Project Plan - Assignment Example The different engine sizes will also mean different velocity for the audience who will make a purchase according their preferences in speed and use of the motorcycle. Various steps will be put in place to ensure that the motorcycles produced for the company are certified by the concerned government agencies to be safe for public use. The company will be forced to conduct a market research for the product, they will also develop and implement an effective project management strategy and lastly they will look for skilled labor to help in the construction process of the motor cycle. The main aim of the construction and manufacturing of the motorcycles will be to provide consumers with efficient and reliable motorcycles which can serve their different needs both privately and commercially. However, the new kinds of motorcycle that will be produced by the company will not be accepted readily by the audiences, but they will attracted to the unique features that the machine will posses and with time, they the profits proceeds will increase as consumers will be preferring the new kind over the older one. Analyze The Type Of Staff That Your Company Would Need In Order To Make The Manufacturing Switch To Motorcycles With Larger Motors The motorcycles company will need a highly effective staff to enable them make the manufacture switch to motorcycles with larger motors. The staff to be employed buy the company should have the ability to deal with different risk within the company and in the manufacturing process. The staff is expected to deal with risk and uncertainty to allow them makes decisions which may lead to the achievements of set goals. The staff will also be expected to be result oriented. This will involve them demonstrating common sense in situations where they are allowed to make decisions that are capable of solving problems and cutting down the level of risk that would have resulted in the manufacturing process. The staff is also expected to be energetic to deliver their best to the company. Energetic staff is associated with meeting the organizations’ goals and success. The staff to be employed by the company are also expected to have a high growth potential to allow them occupy the various m anagement opportunities that may prevail themselves within the company. Last but not least, the staff is expected to be good team players within the company. This will motivate them to deliver in unison towards the greater good of the company. Lastly, the staff is expected to be multitasking. They should be able to accept new duties assigned to them, therefore, leading to efficiency in the different departments within the organization. Prepare Four (4) Team-Building Strategies For Handling The Newly Formed Team. Discuss The Manner In Which The Strategies That You Have Prepared May Positively Or Negatively Affect Productivity Within The Company The company will come up with the following team-building strategies for their newly formed staff employed by

Case Study on the application of the U.N Convention on Contract for Term Paper

Case Study on the application of the U.N Convention on Contract for the International Sale of Goods - Term Paper Example Thus, it becomes evident that in the present case, it is possible to apply the CISG. The second important factor to be considered is what happens if one party fails to deliver the products within the specified date. Admittedly, according to the contract, the products were to be delivered by 15th July. However, the products were delivered only on 4th August. According to Article 33 (a) of CSIG, the seller must deliver the goods on the day fixed by or determinable from the contract. Evidently, the contract had fixed the date of delivery as 15th July. However, it seems that FireWeasel (buyer) did not give GeniuX (seller) an additional period of time of reasonable length to deliver the goods. According to Article 47, paragraph 1, the buyer may fix an additional period of time of reasonable length for performance by the seller of his obligations. However, in the present case, it seems that the buyer did not fix any additional period of time for the seller and there was no communication in this connection. So, it becomes evident that though the seller failed to deliver the goods in time, the buyer loses the legal right to claim that the contract was avoided. The third important point is what happens when the contract does not mention anything about the quality of the product ordered. It is evident from the case that the products delivered by the seller are not good enough to enable the buyer to compete in the market. Article 35 (2a) points out that unless agreed otherwise, the goods do not conform to the contract if they are not fit for the purpose for which goods of the same description are normally used. However, the case shows that the products delivered are not so bad and are only slightly inferior to other competitors. Thus, it is possible for the buyer to rely on the poor quality of the products delivered. Another important point is how and when the matter of lack of conformity should be informed by the buyer to the seller. It is pointed out in Article 39 that the buyer loses the right to claim lack of conformity if he does not give notice to the seller, specifying the nature of the lack of conformity within a reasonable time period. Evidently, the buyer in the present case has promptly informed the seller about the lack of conformity. It is seen that the product was delivered on 4th August and was inspected on 8th August. On 9th August, the lack of conformity was reported to the seller by email. Another important point is if the buyer has the responsibility to allow the seller some time to replace the products at their own expense and if the seller has the legal right to request for such chance. According to Article 47 (1), it is the duty of the buyer to fix an additional period of time of reasonable length for the seller to fulfil his obligations. However, it is seen that though the buyer informed the seller about the poor quality of the products, it did not give the seller a chance to improve the performance. It means that though the b uyer can claim that the products were of poor quality, it will not get any legal benefits as it failed to allow the seller a reasonable time to improve the performance. Now the question arises as to whether the buyer has the responsibility to pay for the products it purchased. It is pointed out in Article 53 that the buyer must pay the price for the goods and take delivery of the products in

Literature on the Caste system in India

Literature on the Caste system in India There is a vast literature on Caste system in India with a long and diverse background. This chapter aims to review some of the relevant literatures pertaining to the caste system prevailing in India. Different authors might have varied perceptions about this particular topic for discussion. According to Louis Dumont (1980) in his book Homo Hierarchicus which has details about the caste system and its implication, demonstrates that Indian society was structured on a firm notion of hierarchy that was based on the relationship between the pure and the impure. It is more of a religious than a political or economic notion. He defines hierarchy as the principle by which the elements of a whole are ranked in relation to the whole, it being understood that in the majority of societies it is religion which provides the view of the whole, and that the ranking will thus be religious in nature(Dumont,L.1980). He also points out the prevalence of traditional hierarchy which was based on varnas or colours whereby people were divided into four categories namely Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Sudras and; untouchables are outside the classification. M.N.Srinivas (1962) in his book Caste in Modern India and Other Essays, highlights the part played by caste in democratic processes of modern India in administration and education. The author came across certain conflicting attitudes among the people of the elite class whereby one group wanted legislation to eradicate the social evils pertaining to the caste system and on the other hand, there were people who were not only determined not to fight the evil but also tried to practise this system. In his work he tries to explain the concepts of two social processes namely Sanskritization and Westernization. Sankritization is the part of social mobility as well as the idiom in which mobility expresses itself. This is said to occur within the framework of caste whereas Westernization happens outside the framework of caste. However, Sanskritisation may lead to castes becoming unpopular with their neighbours whereby the leaders of upper or dominant caste may show their bitterness by even to rturing the members of the lower castes. In independent India, the reservations and safeguards granted to the backwards sections especially the Scheduled Caste and Tribes have helped in the upliftment of the lower caste. He also brings into notice the effects of British rule on the caste system which in a way helped in taking over the power previously exercised by the caste panchayats. A new principle of justice was introduced by the British which said all men are equal before the law, and that the nature of a wrong is not affected by the caste of a person who is committing it, or by the caste of the person against whom it is committed (M.N.Srinivas, 1962). This has not been fully followed in the rural areas where caste panchayats are still functioning strongly. The author argues that the Varna system has certainly warped the caste but it has enabled ordinary folks to comprehend the caste system by providing them with a simple and candid system that is applicable to all parts of Ind ia. To the question of can castes exists in the India of tomorrow the author opines that only a minority considers caste as an evil to the whole nation and that this minority is gradually increasing every day. Moreover in rural areas it is possible to come across urbanized young people who consider caste detrimental to healthy relations between people. He concludes by saying that nothing else but the people themselves must understand that caste necessarily means casteism and that benefits it offers are bought at a heavy price for the country as a whole. Taya.Zinkin (1962) in her book Caste Today describes the caste system in India. She considers its origin, the way it works, what democracy is doing to caste and vice versa. In her work she states that caste is not class and that every caste has educated and uneducated, rich and poor, well born and ordinary born. The author also says that caste is not dependent on colour because a Brahmin will not stop being a Brahmin if he is black skinned nor does an untouchable stop being one if he is fair skinned. She also argues that caste is not based on occupation, however various other literatures may not completely agree to what this author states. According to her caste is a way of life which divides society into small groups, each of which lives in a rather different way from the rest. Due to these differences, tiny groups and important aspects of life like marriage take place within them, these groups have immense control of power and thus a better survival. Before she goes into the detail s of castes, sub- castes and untouchability she tries to explain the concept of re- incarnation. It is said that the whole system is based upon a combination of status fixed by birth and rebirth. This means that a persons birth in the existing life depends on the consequences of his deeds done in past life i.e. if one performs his duties well complying with what he is supposed to do then he may be reborn in a better situation or not be reborn at all. Marriage customs vary with castes and sub-castes. Untouchables usually make late marriages unlike the Brahmins who make early arranged child marriages. Finally Tan Zinkin(1962) talks about the beginnings of the breakdown and the loss of belief of the Hindu society. Change of attitudes among the castes and sub-castes were witnessed. More recently, loss of belief has been the result, of the spread of education to the rural areas. With education came an arousing of new expectations, which through much of the Indian peninsula produced a new non-Brahmanical leadership, a leadership which was not only non- Brahmin but positively anti -Brahmin (Tan Zinkin, 1962.pp38). Tan Zinkin has been pretty much argumentative on the concept of caste. She strongly says what caste in not rather than what caste is. The theory about re incarnation has helped me to know more about the birth and rebirth cycle with regard to the caste system. Marc Galanter (1963.pp 544-559) in his article Law and Caste in Modern India focuses on caste and laws pertaining to it during the British rule in India. He describes the way in which the legal rules and regulations affect the caste as an institution. The legal view of caste is explained under three headings namely personal law, caste autonomy and precedence and disabilities. First being legal rights and obligations of a person which is determined by the identity of the caste group to which he belongs. During the British period caste was little used for the occurrence of legal regulation and moreover all castes irrespective of their ranks had to follow the same rights and duties. However caste customs varied when it came to law of succession, law of adoption and law of marriage. Marriages between different castes or varnas were not allowed. Caste autonomy conferred some right to the caste groups to enforce certain rules which were not disturbed by the government. Precedence and disab ilities dealt with the legal interventions with regard to the relations between castes. Courts imposed certain rules such as restriction on the entry of a particular caste into temples. This shows that even though the British did help in reducing the caste discrimination, on the other hand they ended up aggravating it to a certain extent. The author also talks about the independent India where the higher castes have lost their dominance over legal matters and moreover the lower ahs castes have acquired certain government benefits regarding equality and other preferential treatments. Marc Galanter (1963) concludes this essay by saying that British period may be considered as a period ofSanskritzation in legal notion of caste. (1963.pp559) Caste- based oppression in India lives today in an environment seemingly hostile to its presence: a nation-state that has long been labelled the worlds Largest democracy, a progressive and protective constitution; a system of laws designed to proscribe and punish acts of a discrimination on the basis of caste; broad- based programmes of affirmative action that include constitutionally mandated reservations or quotas for Dalits or so- called Untouchables; and a aggressive economic liberalization campaign to fuel Indias economic growth. Says Smitha Narula(2008) in her article Equal by Law, Unequal by Caste: The Untouchable Condition in Critical Race Perspective. The author talks about the caste system and the discrimination attached to it and the inequality witnessed in India today focusing on the caste and gender- based discrimination and its impact on the Dalits of India. Dr.Santosh Singh Anant(1972) in his work The Changing Concept of Caste in India enumerates the psychological aspects of caste, inter- caste relations and of untouchability. He comments on the theory of status consistency and it is defined as the extent to which an individuals rank positions on a given hierarchies are at a comparable level (Rush, 1967). A Brahmin working as peon in an office and an untouchable or anyone from the lower caste working as a senior officer would be an apt example for status inconsistency. This is however happening due to the spread of education. He brings in one of the several views about the origin of caste system which dates back to 1500 B.C with the advent of Aryans from Central Asia. According to Nehru (1960) The Dravdians were the conquered race and Aryans the conquerors. Since the Dravidians were advanced in their civilization, Aryans considered them to be a potential threat to them. This is considered to be one of reasons why Aryans tried to push th e Dravidians to an inferior position and thus created the theory of four- Varnas or the caste system. The author also points out that socio-economic factors such as education, industrialization, and increase in mobility have abated the rate of discrimination of caste system. Sree Narayana Guru the Ascetic Who Changed the Lunatic Asylum into Gods Own Country is a biography written by Murkot Ramunny about a saint who lived in Kerala state in the Southern part of India. Narayana Guru was a philosopher as well as reformer who immensely contributed to the upliftment of lower castes in Kerala. He helped in bringing about freedom of prayer and education to millions of under privileged in Kerala. It is due to his selfless service to the society that Kerala has attained 100 percent literacy rate compared to other states in India. The author in his article informs us that, even the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi paid him a visit and took inspiration from Guru for the social Upliftment of the lower casts or Harijans (Untouchables). One caste one religion one god for man was his motto. It is years since I left caste and religion. Even then some people are working on presumption that I belong to their community. As a result, a wrong impression has been created in the minds of the people. I do not belong to any caste or religion. In order that only people who do not belong to any caste or religion should succeed me (Narayana Guru, 1091). This piece of literature has helped me in this dissertation to know more about the caste system prevalent in the state of Kerala. According to Harsh Mandir, in his article Burning Baskets of Shame (2010 August 9.pp3), he illustrates a real incident of manual scavenging which had happened in India couple of years back. The statistics shown by him in this article concerning the number of people doing manual scavenging was about 6.4 lacs according to the Planning Commission in 1995. He describes about a campaign named Safai Karmchari Andolan (SKA) which was started as a non-violent mass resistance to end this hideous practice of Manual Scavenging. This campaign was started by an individual who himself was born into a scavenging family who witnessed this abhorring practice from his childhood. As reported by Harsh Mandir in this article SKA is the first movement to end Untouchability in India. But it should be right to say that this was one of the many movements which had taken place in different part of India during different period. In the article The Indian Caste System by Madhudvisa Dasa (August 9, 2010) he tries to explain the caste system in relation to what has been written in the ancient scriptures. He quotes certain ideas from the Holy Book of Hindus, The Bhagavad Gita. The author sheds some light on theVedas, which says that the Varnas or castes are not differentiated on the basis of birth but my mere qualification (Guna) and work (karma). He assumes that the present caste system has degenerated to the extent that people consider men born in Brahmin families as a Brahmin even if he does not exhibit the qualities of a Brahmin. The author agrees to the fact that one takes rebirth according to his past deeds or karma but at the same time he says that in order to become a Brahmin adequate training is required and that it is not conferred automatically by birth as seen in the present generation. Indias hidden apartheid (UNESCO Courier, 2001.pp27-29); an article written by Gopal Guru and Shiraz Sidhva criticizes the abhorrent caste system in India. The article opens with a note which says Indias ancient caste system persists, subjecting millions to degrading poverty and human rights abuses. Attitudes die hard, despite government legislations to usher in change. They comment on the caste system as a means of deployment by the upper caste to suppress the lower caste and thus attain a monopoly over the wealth, knowledge, power and education. The extent of discrimination was immense that these so called untouchables were forced to use drums in order to announce their arrival so that the upper caste is not polluted even by their shadow falling on them. This article informs us that the term untouchables was abolished in 1950 under the constitution of India but there still exists a glimpse of discrimination against them. India has however tried to reduce the discrimination by reserv ing quotas and reservations for the lower castes in education and for government jobs. Caste in doubt: The Indian Census and Caste (2010.June 12, pp46), an article which had been recently published in The Economist has details about the reservations and quotas being introduced for the lower castes. This article also brings into notice the issue relating to the inclusion of caste system in the census which is to be declared in the ten yearly plan in 2011. However this had been faced with criticisms because since 1931 India has not counted caste in the census. Moreover it is impossible for it be included in the census because Indias caste system has not only the four Varnas but also various other sub-castes which may not be evidently recognised by the authorities. In spite of certain obstacles, the economic growth of the country has contributed to the lessening of discrimination on the basis of caste because a number of individuals have moved from the rigid social surroundings to the urban towns and cities in search of jobs where family background is irrelevant. Many Ind ians are becoming caste- blind and marrying across caste lines. Anidhrudda, a 20 year old software engineer in Calcutta, says his inter-caste marriage was no big deal. But even he concedes that there are limits. If he had married a dalit, he says, my family would not have been able to face the society' (The Economist, 2010.pp46). Leaders: Untouchables and Unthinkable; Indian Business (The Economist.2007.pp17) is an article which highlights the point that says that Indian business does not discriminate against the Untouchables or lower castes. Moreover, it condemns the practice of reservation in private sector because it would damage the whole business system. Responsibility for lower castes lack of advancement does not lie with the private sector. There is no evidence that companies discriminate against them. The real culprit is government and the rotten educational system it has created (The Economist.2007.pp17).It is not possible to have reservations in Business like they have it educational systems. This article says that as people get richer their concern about the caste fades. Nowadays middle class Indian families are to be seen marrying outside their caste than the rural poor and less likely to wrinkle their nose at a Dalit. Harold A. Gould in his work The Adaptive Functions of Caste in Contemporary India (1963.pg427) informs us that caste has not fully disappeared even with the advent of modern technology and other social structural changes. His research found out that in rural areas, the existence of caste in the form of ritual purity, occupation, and system of hierarchy still exists in its own way. In contemporary India, however caste system has not disappeared completely but has declined in the urban areas among the educated middle class families. From the above review of Literature and from various other reliable sources it can be understood that it is not possible to witness an India without a small aspect of Caste system. This is because it has been deeply rooted in the minds of Indians since ages and it still continues in certain spheres of their life. Caste system has been a topic of great interest to the Westerners as it fascinates them about the two ideologies- of caste system being important and not being important, existing within the same country and people. Recent articles from The Economist which are mentioned above, mainly talks about the reservations and quotas based on caste rather than discriminating against them on the basis of ritual purity and occupation. However it is not completely true to say that caste system has vanished from the Indian society. Educated Indians know that caste exists, but they are unclear and troubled about what it means for them as members of the society that is a part of the modern w orld. No one can say that it is easy to give a clear and consistent account of the meaning and significance of caste in India today (Fuller.C.J, 1996.Caste Today.pp153)

Essay --

THE GOOD OLE USDA â€Å"United States Drug Addiction† I was laid back puffing on a phat stack of reasoning and sipping on some old memories just passing the time away this morning and decided to tap into my genius. Yeah, it’s me, Maestro; your (resident legal analyst) reporting to you live from the privacy of my own space. For those of you who don’t know, I am a graduate from the â€Å"School of Hard Knocks† with a PHd in Human ology. Let me be the first to inform you that I never made the â€Å"Fiends List†, in school and for the record, I never will. First and foremost, there is absolutely nothing traditional about my flow. So what! If my subject-verb don’t agree at times or my opinion comes from an Afrocentric point of view. â€Å"Can we just get along?† My sky scrapper is immune from media attack. So don’t try to intimidate me with your law—because I hit back. Like most of you, I listen to the news and social media to keep up with current events. Which is why I take my time to perceive each comment I make before I forget. So if what I say hurts you in any way, then indict me. Because as far as I’m...

The Art of Motivating Salespeople

In the workplace, there are many factors that go into motivating salespeople. What interests some, might not interest others. It is vital for an employer to identify with its employees needs and wants and what is important to them in order to effectively motivate their employers and run their company the best way possible. In an article titled â€Å"The Art of Motivating Salespeople† by speaker and author John Boe, he gives the reader his own personal insights on how to effectively motivate a salesforce.The article states that, â€Å"Traditionally, sales managers have relied primarily on commission to motivate their sales force. Unfortunately, a compensation structure based solely on commission does not address separate motivational factors and therefore, commission alone will not motivate your sales force to peak performance. † As discussed in class, there are other factors more important to employees rather then solely commission and money. Feeling accepted by fellow employees or appreciated by the person you are working for are far more important to people than receiving an extra bonus.The article states, â€Å"While money is certainly an important ingredient in any incentive program, it should by no means be the only tool in a managers motivational toolbox. † Once an employer realizes this, they will be able to better communicate with their salespeople and reward them in ways that are both efficient and effective for their company. By discovering employees’ needs, they will be able to develop a program that will motivate their sales people and potentially reach the company’s highest goals.Difficulty lies in motivating sales people due to feelings of isolation and detachment, people working on their own, and frustrations. When developing motivational programs, managers must be able to identify with salespeople's needs. The theory that exists that relates to these needs is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Theory. He propos ed five levels of needs that every individual seeks to satisfy. The theory explains how a person will not worry about filling other needs until the one before it has been filled. The first level and most basic is Physiological Needs.These needs include necessary food, water, shelter, clothing, and health care or good benefits package. The next level is considered Safety Needs which consist of job security, income security, and safe working conditions. Once a person feels this sense of security, they will then go on to fill their Social Needs. For most people, it is very important to feel accepted and have a sense of belonging. In the workplace, one may feel the need to have support and group encouragement. The fourth level of Esteem Needs involves a person having the need to feel recognized.It is important to a person to be given credit when it is deserved and feel appreciated for their hard work. The final level of needs is called Self Actualization. This involves a person wanting to improve and learn new things. It is simply a self development challenge of expanding one's horizons. To fulfill this need, a person may become involved in special projects, participate in advanced training, or take on more responsibilities in the office. Basically, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs helps us to understand the needs of people in the workplace.Finding an effective combination of motivators may be easier if a sales executive understands some of the behavioral factors that affect sales force motivation. The article tells us that â€Å"a successful incentive program is a mixture of awards, recognition, and peer pressure. To encourage sales people to reach their full potential, successful managers personalize incentives. † Mentioned in the article and in class discussion is finding a person’s â€Å"hot buttons†. This term is way of saying what one can do or say to impress another and get them to be intrigued.Salespeople will perform better and put forth g reater effort when the rewards are worth their hard work. Ways to keep interest during an incentive program include publishing standings frequently to show progress and acknowledge achievement during the process. For company rewards and incentives to have an impact on motivation, salespeople must value these rewards†¦ and they must feel that the rewards are worth the effort. A program that involves the reward something as simple as being recognized, such as an â€Å"Employee of the Month Parking Space† is a great way to motivate employees to work hard and bring the company success.The reward is well worth the salesperson’s effort and this gives the them to incentive to do whatever they have to do to reach their ultimate goal. The article reminds us that â€Å"a well structured incentive program pays for itself from increased revenue. † In essence, identifying a salespersons needs and the rewards they value for their hard work is very important in motivating salespeople. Although motivation can be difficult at times, developing incentive programs that are created specifically for a company’s employees are ultimately efficient and effective ways to reach success.

Medicare and Medicaid Essay

Medicaid and Medicare are two different government programs. Both programs were created in 1965 to help older and low-income families be able to buy their own private health insurance. These programs were part of President Lyndon Johnson’s â€Å"Great Society† plan, a commitment to helping meet the needs of individual health care. They are social insurance programs, which allow the financial load of patient’s illnesses to be shared by other healthy, sick, wealthy, and lower income individuals and families. Medicaid insurance covers approximately 60 million Americans, according to their income. Medicaid is larger than any other single private health insurance program. The criteria for participating would include those who are unable to work due to disabilities, anyone who receives Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), as well as single, pregnant women who fall below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). In 2011, the FPL for a family of four was set at $22,350 . This amount is updated yearly. Medicaid also helps those who are part of the Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI) program (Mann, 2012). Funding for Medicaid comes from the government as well as each state’s department of SSI. They are also responsible for administering funds. In the other hand, Medicare is a federal government program that offers individual health care insurance to those who are 65 or older, and/or have a disability, no matter what their income level. Taxes that are deducted from one’s payroll helps pay for the Medicare program. Medicare is intended to benefit seniors, younger people with specific disabilities, and people with end stage renal disease. The Medicare program has four parts; Parts A, B, C, and D. The social security department pays for a portion of Part A. Part A helps pay for inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing care, hospice care and other services. Part B is paid for by the monthly premiums of people enrolled and by general funds from the U.S. Treasury. It helps pay for doctors’ fees, outpatient hospital visits, and other medical services and supplies that are not covered by Part A. Part C (Medicare Advantage) plans allow you to choose to receive all of your health care services through a provider organiz ation. These plans may help lower your costs of receiving medical services, or you may get extra benefits for an additional monthly fee. You must have both Parts A and B to enroll in Part C. Part D (prescription drug coverage) is voluntary and the costs are paid for by the monthly premiums of enrollees and Medicare. Unlike Part B in which you are automatically enrolled and must opt out if you do not want it, with Part D you have to opt in by filling out a form and enrolling in an approved plan. The history of Medicare began decades ago in 1945, when President Harry Truman had a vision that Americans should have affordable health care. He fought for the idea, but it was an idea before its time. Medicare is a health care insurance program, which put simply is overseen by the United State Federal Government. Today the chain of acronyms, which oversee Medicare, leads to Health and Human Services, HHS, and the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services, CMS. In 1945 Harry Truman was called a socialist. Today the same label has been pinned on President Obama. Perhaps the real question might be how does a country provide all of its citizens and residents health care without some level of socialism? In 1965 when Lyndon Johnson was President, he signed into law Medicare and Medicaid, which is a program that offers assistance to the indigent population. Ironically, the first person to enroll in Medicare was the former President Harry Truman. Over the following years, from 1965 to present, the provisions of Medicare have expanded. In 1972 benefits for speech therapy, physical therapy and chiropractic visits were added. This was also the year that payments to health maintenance organizations were added to the potential benefits. It was 1982 when hospice benefits were added on a temporary basis. Hospice became a permanent benefit in 1984. The next big change came in 1997 when Medicare added a Part C, Medicare Plus Choice which translates as health insurance programs offered by private companies but approved by Medicare. When Medicare first went into effect the monthly premium for Part B, medical insurance, was three dollars. As it stands today in year 2010, Part A, hospital premium, is $254 to $461 per month. Part B, the medical insurance portion, is $96.40 for those individuals whose income does not exceed a certain amount. There are also multiple co-pays and carve-outs, which further increase the cost to the patient. The ceiling restrictions put on various costs, such as the daily allotment for hospital stays and skilled nursing facilities, often do not fully cover the patient’s expenses. Today, Medicare recipients must carefully review their Medicare benefits and compare and contrast them with their private insurance. Some providers do not take new Medicare patients. There are benefits that are the responsibility of the Federal government, and others that belong to the State government. It is a challenge for elderly patients to even understand their benefits. Medicaid and Medicare both play important parts in paying for health care for seniors. They are, however, very different. There are many details, but here are three big differences. Variability: First, Medicare is more or less the same in every state, but Medicaid rules vary widely state by state. You must know which state a senior is living in, before you can decide whether they are eligible for Medicaid, for example. Eligibility: The second difference is eligibility. All seniors who paid into the Social Security system are eligible for Medicare. By contrast, Medicaid is a welfare program, so that a senior must have low income and limited assets in order to qualify. Those income and resource limits vary by state. Usually seniors apply for Medicaid through a local Medicaid office or begin the application process with the help of a nursing home or other facility’s staff member. Coverage: The third difference is coverage. Medicare currently pays for 80% of the cost of doctors and hospitals. Congress is now considering whether to add coverage for prescriptions. Medicare will pay for part of nursing home costs during the first 100 days after a hospital stay, but not otherwise. By contrast, Medicaid provides the majority of funding of nursing home residents in the nation. Often a senior enters a nursing home with certain assets and has to pay for the cost of care until they run out of money. Then Medicaid steps in and pays for the remaining part of the nursing home stay. If the senior is married, the spouse not living in the nursing home gets to keep a modest amount of income and resources in order not to be impoverished. Currently, all states must allow a spouse to keep at least $1,383 of the monthly family income and at least $16,824 of non-exempt resources. Certain resources are exempt, of which the most important is their principal residence, if they own it. It is possible to transfer certain assets to other family members, but the rules are strict and vary by state. You may also be able to obtain Medicaid-funded services for the senior in his/her home. Eligibility requirements vary by state. The varying structures of Medicaid and Medicare health care plans have resulted to conflicting incentives with respect to dual eligibility in beneficiaries without coordinated care. The main interest of both health care plans is to cut medical costs and none of the plans has an incentive that accounts for the quality of health care services offered. Medicare program is run by the federal government and individuals who are eligible for the program are those above 65 years of age, irrespective of their earning and young individuals who are disabled and have qualified for Social Security’s disability. Medicaid on the other size is a health care plan run by the state and provides insurance cover for all income-based employees of all ages. One of the key strengths of both plans is that that they give individuals a chance for dual eligibility. It is essential to offer extensive acute as well as long-term health care services for dually eligible beneficiaries of both Medicaid and Medicare. One major weakness of Medicare is the fact that it does not provide insurance cover for services like acute care dental, transport services and vision services. The major service that is not covered by Medicare is long-term care. Moreover, it majorly covers for the elderly and does not serve the population that is below 65 years. Medicaid on the other part has a weakness in that it is more costly compared to Medicare. Moreover, unmarried patients must be financially broke in order to qualify for Medicaid. It is however evident that all services that are not covered by Medicare are paid by Medicaid h ealth program. Medicaid and Medicare have been the principal means through which a large portion of the population gains access to health care in the United States. It is however evident that Medicaid is more committed toward promoting health care access compared to Medicare. In the year 1960, about ten million United States’ citizens were enrolled in Medicaid. This number has gradually increased and currently, the program covers a total number of citizens exceeding forty one million. The minimal commitment of Medicare is owed to the fact that there has been no primary expansion of eligibility requirements from the 1970s. A good example of Medicaid expansion program that has led to increased accessibility to health care is the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. This program provides insurance cover to children from low-income families. With the ever-rising costs of health care, both Medicare and Medicaid health plans are struggling to establish equilibrium between access expansion and cost regulation. A major similarity between both plans is that the government funds them and they work in partnership to provide health care costs cover to the poor and elderly population. The cost growth risk is one of the consumer risks associated with both Medicare and Medicaid health care plans. Inadequate health care services, is a consumer risk associated with Medicaid. With the increasing number of insured patients, there are inadequate primary care doctors. Physicians in majority of the states are discouraged by Medicaid health care plan. It is therefore common for individuals covered by Medicaid plan to report poorer health condition compared to the uninsured and those covered by private programs. A feature associated with Medicare program is prohibiting doctors from receiving health care payment that is more than the amount supposed to be paid by Medicare beneficiaries. It is thus not surprising to find some physicians refusing to provide health care services to Medicare patients on the grounds that the program pays an amount that is less than the costs. Fraud and waste, is another consumer risk that is associated with Medicaid and Medicare health care programs. With so many people enrolled in these programs, fraud is a common issue. The issue of waste and fraud is prevalent due to the fact that there is limited oversight to suppliers, providers and other people taking part in the health care plans. There are some recommendations that be suggested to improve the health care plan. One of the recommendations for Medicaid is to give greater support to uniform eligibility. This would help in solving the issue of unmarried patients’ requirement to be low-income earners so as to be insured. Another recommendation is for the program to increase the amount of money paid to physicians taking part in the program. This would increase accessibility and the quality of health care services provided to Medicaid patients. Due to the fact that Medicaid is more expensive compared to Medicare, effort should be made to reduce the costs. This would also minimize the consumer risk of increased costs. One recommendation for Medicare program is expansion of coverage, access and eligibility requirements. Currently, only people aged 65 and above are eligible for Medicare cover. Including the rest of the population would promote accessibility to health care. Another recommendation is reduction in Medicare spending, which help in cutting down the costs of health care services for insured patients. It is also recommendable for Medicare to expand the range of services pr ovided to beneficiaries. Long-term health care services and other services like transport services should be issued. This is owed to the fact that the beneficiaries are the elderly population and disabled children who may have limited access to transportation facilities. In conclusion Medicare and Medicaid are two U.S. government programs that guarantee health insurance for the elderly and the poor, respectively. With Medicare, medical bills are paid from trust funds, which those covered, have paid into. It serves people over 65 primarily, whatever their income; and serves younger disabled people and dialysis patients. Patients pay part of costs through deductibles for hospital and other costs. Small monthly premiums are required for non-hospital coverage. Medicare is basically the same everywhere in the United States and is run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, an agency of the federal government. Medicaid is an assistance program in which Medical bills are paid from federal, state and local tax funds. It serves low-income people of every age. Patients usually pay no part of costs for covered medical expenses. A small co-payment is sometimes required. Medicaid is a federal-state program. It varies from state to state. The state and local governments within federal guidelines run Medicaid. References 1. Fong, Tony. (2005). Assessing Four Decades of Medicare, Medicaid, 6-7, 24, 42 http://hs1.farmingdale.edu:2177/docview/211948589/13AE0E52EFA2427EF35/8?accountid=8066 2. Berkowitz, Edward (2008). Medicare and Medicaid: The Past as Prologue. Health Care Financing Review29. 3: 81-93 http://hs1.farmingdale.edu:2177/docview/196958775?accountid=8066 3. Carlson, G. (2009). Difference between Medicaid and Medicare. Health Feature articles http://missourifamilies.org/features/healtharticles/health46.htm 4. Medicaid and Medicare, pgs. 1-16 http://www.coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?a=Files.Serve&File_id=4d8184 9a-33fa-40c0-a995-e7f17b1d8a47 5. Pamela Farley Short, Lauren McCormack, Judith Hibbard, James A. Shaul, Lauren Harris-Kojetin, Michael H. Fox, Peter Damiano, Jennifer D. Uhrig and Paul D. Cleary (2002). Similarities and Differences in Choosing Health Plans. Medical Care, 40(4), 289-302 http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3767833?uid=3739832&uid=2129&uid=2134&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21101469438031 6. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation (2009). Focus on Health Reform. Health Reform Opportunities: Improving Policy for Dual Eligible, pgs. 1-7 http://www.kff.org/medicaid/upload/7957.pdf