While Medicare clearly has made an important contribution to the quality of life for the elderly, there are many healthcare-related costs it does not cover. As health care costs have spiraled upward, employers have increasingly stopped providing for retirees, leaving them to scramble for insurance to cover the "gaps". Review the following: . Out of pocket costs remain significant. . Federal costs however have soared, nearly doubling the percentage of US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2000 and 2020 and projected to continue growing. . This view lets us look at the costs another way. This issue becomes even more frightening when we realize that Medicare covers only a fraction of the actual cost of care. Review this research on price transparency. There is a shifting of the burden to private health insurance plans and self-pay. Indeed, most data supports that those who have no assistance and are generally the least able to pay, are charged the highest amounts of all. Question the current maze of healthcare coverage. Include each of the following points in your discussion: . Summarize how much an individual might pay for a hospital stay in each of the four primary systems (Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance plans, self-pay) . Discuss if, in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, this coverage is sufficient