People may not know what “social insurance” means, but they do know what its programmes are. Social insurance includes government-run, tax-payer-funded programmes that help people who are having trouble paying their bills because of things like illness, disability, or old age.
It is the people who use social insurance programmes who pay for them. There are deductions for Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment on a typical paycheck. Those deductions add to the benefits that provide a safety net for old age, sickness, or hard times.
How It Works
It helps people who need it by pooling the money of many people. Both employees and employers are required to make contributions. These contributions pay for a wide range of benefits, such as health insurance, retirement insurance, unemployment insurance, and disability insurance.
Is it worth it?
Multiple reasons make social insurance worth it. For starters, it gives people a safety net in case they lose their job or something else unexpected happens that makes them lose their income. Third, it can help cut down on poverty and unfairness. Third, giving people the confidence to spend and invest can help the economy grow and stay stable.
Some of the benefits of social insurance include:
- Health insurance: Helps pay for medical care, like stays in the hospital, visits to the doctor, and prescription drugs.
- Retirement insurance: Gives retirees a pension so that they have a way to make money in their later years.
- Unemployment insurance: Helps people who have lost their jobs by giving them short-term money.
- Disability insurance: Supports disabled individuals by giving them money when they are unable to work.
- Workers’ compensation: It helps workers who get hurt or sick on the job by giving them money.