Medicare Overview
How the Program Works
Medicare, created in 1965 as an amendment to the Social Security program, provides health insurance to persons age 65 and older, to qualifying persons under 65 with disabilities, and to persons of any age suffering from permanent kidney failure. Medicare should be considered as offering payment for the "basic" costs of health care. Not all medical expenses or the costs of long-term care are covered. Medicare is the Nation’s largest health insurance program, currently covering over 39 million people. Medicare and Medicaid. These two programs are often confused. Medicaid is administered by State governments to assist persons with little or…
