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Medicare 101: Understanding the Basics

Written by lbmcep_admin | Sep 2, 2021, 12:00:00 AM

What is Medicare?

Medicare is a federal medical insurance, established by Congress in 1965, that helps cover healthcare costs for individuals who are ages 65 and older, disabled, or suffering from unique ailments such as End Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD), Black Lung, and other applicable illnesses. It is funded through the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund. Medicare currently serves more than 66.7 million enrollees and is funded through the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund.