What is Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program that offers coverage for:

- People age 65 and older
- Certain disabled people under age 65
- Anyone with kidney failure

The program is managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services(CMS).

Medicare was established in 1965 when Lyndon B Johnson signed H.R. 6675 and today covers over 60 million people which is about 1 in 5 Americans.

- It is often referred to as Original Medicare.
- This program helps with the cost of health care, but it doesn’t cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care.
- Medicare is individual health insurance, not family or group insurance.