Small Things Count

Yes, Social Security and Medicare are “entitlement” programs.  But let’s be clear.  The word “entitlement” is often used in negative ways – as handouts or free money given to someone who feels entitled, or justified, to get it without working.  In fact, it simply refers to something a person truly has a right to have (think of the entitlement in the business world of a vacation).  If a person pays into a fund their whole working life, then retires, aren’t they entitled to get their money back, with interest?  That’s Social Security.  If a person pays out-of-pocket a portion of that Social Security each month, plus an additional amount to a health plan, and they pay it to the government to form a huge fund that pays for most (not all—think deductibles, co-pays, and non-covered but necessary items) medical bills, aren’t they entitled to receive the limited benefits that Medicare provides?  Obviously, the answer is YES to both questions.  I wish these programs were not considered “entitlements,” or at least that people would stop thinking that people using them are taking advantage.  Over many years, those people earned their benefits!