Medicare still matters

Medicare still matters
Health Affairs; by Marilyn Moon; 8/1/25
In July 1965, Medicare and Medicaid were signed into law to provide basic health insurance for vulnerable populations. Over the past six decades, these two programs have transformed the US health care landscape, providing affordable coverage and access to care for tens of millions of Americans. To mark this milestone, the Forefront editors invited several Medicare and Medicaid experts to share their thoughts on where these programs began, how they’ve changed, and what may lie ahead. [Interesting article, including:]

• Financing Medicare
• Challenges From Medicare Advantage
• Limited Improvements... While changes to the basic benefit have come slowly for Medicare, some have improved the program. The addition of a prescription drug benefit and coverage of hospice care have both helped to move the program closer to meeting the chronic-care versus acute-care needs of seniors and persons with disabilities.
• Further Improvements Are Needed