Health care law encompasses the laws and regulations governing hospital and health care administration, and an understanding of health care insurance is integral to it. There are significant differences in the types and amount of coverage provided by various private insurance policies, such as HMOs, PPOs, disability insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance, just as there are important differences in the cost to the purchasers of health insurance. There are also public health care insurance programs. Elderly and disabled persons may be eligible for coverage through the federal Medicare program. The joint state-federal Medicaid program helps certain individuals, including disabled persons and low-income elderly persons, pay for long-term care and in-home health care.
Mercer is a town in southern Iron County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,732 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Manitowish is located within the town. Mercer identifies itself as the "Loon Capital of the World" in order to promote tourism. This is based on a wildlife study that found Mercer had the highest concentration of common loons in the world. In front of the Mercer Chamber of Commerce's information center, there is a 16-foot (4.9 m), 2,000 pound statue named "Claire de Loon". Mercer also hosts an annual "Loon Day" festival, which features a large arts and crafts fair, live music and a loon calling contest.