Online NewsHour: The Medicare System

Although it has often been called the deadly "third rail" of American politics, Medicare is increasingly under scrutiny by policy makers. Whether it’s by outlining the uncertain future of the program's trust fund or decrying the amount seniors are paying out of their own pockets, many politicians have suggested changes must be made to the entitlement programs.

January 12, 2007
House Approves Medicare Negotiations with Drug Companies
The House voted Friday to require the government to negotiate with drug manufacturers to gain better prices for Medicare beneficiaries, lifting a previous ban on such negotiation. President Bush, however, has vowed to veto the bill.

A health care consumer advocate and a former Medicare administrator discuss the new legislation.

May 8, 2006
Deadline for Plan Enrollment Approaches

February 2, 2006
Seniors Encounter Problems in Drug Program

January 16, 2006
Technical Glitches Plague Prescription Plan

Medicare Assistance Sites
Web sites: Cost Estimator at Medicare.gov State-by-state resources (from Medicare.gov) AARP Medicare Prescription Drug Help Page	Telephone counselors : 1-800-MEDICARE

For those struggling to understand it, Medicare often seems like a maze of complex programs and processes. This report explains key components of the Medicare program as they relate to those who depend on it to help pay for their health care.

Politicians and analysts often cite the state of the Medicare trust fund when making their case for changing the program. By looking at how money goes into and comes out of the fabled trust fund, this report explains how Medicare is financed.

Overseeing the nation's most complex entitlement programs has been a challenge for the federal government since Medicare was first created. This report explains how government oversight of Medicare has changed and how the agency administering the program is structured.

While Medicare has retained its primary function, the program has been modified many times since it was signed into law in 1965. This timeline traces evolution of Medicare from when it was just a possibility considered in 1934, to the current incarnation of the program.




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