In the US Medicare covers people over the age of 65, people with certain disabilities, as well as people with kidney disease. The problem with Medicare is that there are a number of basic health care needs that it does not cover. This lack of coverage forces people to go elsewhere, and look for additional coverage. Many people ask, “can you have private medical insurance and medicare?”. The answer to this question is a little unclear. There is a supplemental insurance called Medigap that people with Medicare can purchase to help supplement things like dental, vision, and other basic things that Medicare does not cover, however, in terms of going to other private plans such as Blue Cross Blue Shield or Humana, this is not permitted in individuals who are covered by Medicare. The new health care reform that will be in full effect sometime in the year 2014 may change this but as of now a person who is covered under Medicare only has the option of using Medigap coverage. This coverage is sold by private insurance companies, however, it is a very specific kind of insurance and does not cover spouses, or other such things, the way many private insurance plans do. It is a common belief that the US has the worst health care system in the civilized world, as a result there have been many debates surrounding health care in the US. The recent Obama administration is making an effort to restructure the entire health care system in the US by switching it over to a variation of health care that is seen in European countries. Some people support this reform while others frown on it, stating that it violates the principals the country was founded on. No one can be sure the exact effect the new health care reform will have on people over 65, or anyone for that matter, until it is fully implemented. This will not occur until sometime during the year 2014. Until then Americans will either be covered under private health insurance, Medicaid in those who qualify, and Medicare with Medigap.