Medicare

[med-i-kair]

noun

1. (sometimes lowercase),  a U.S. government program of hospitalization insurance and voluntary medical insurance for persons aged 65 and over and for certain disabled persons under 65.

2. (lowercase),  any of various government-funded programs to provide medical care to a population.

Medicare

/ ˈmɛdɪˌkɛə /

noun

1. (in the US) a federally sponsored health insurance programme for persons of 65 or older

2. (often not capital) (in Canada) a similar programme covering all citizens

3. (in Australia) a government-controlled general health-insurance scheme

Medicare

¹

1. A federal health insurance program, administered by the Social Security Administration, that provides health care for the aged.

Medicare

²

1. A federal program providing medical care for the elderly. Established by a health insurance bill in 1965, as part of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, the Medicare program made a significant step for social welfare legislation and helped establish the growing population of the elderly as a pressure group. (See entitlements.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Medicare¹

medi(cal) + care

Word History and Origins

Origin of Medicare¹

C20: _medi ( _cal ) + _care

Example Sentences

O’Neill’s announcement said that the changes will still allow for immunization coverage to continue through programs including the Vaccines for Children program, Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medicare and Medicaid.

From Los Angeles Times

For those not in the ACA market, including recipients of Medicare and Medicaid and families receiving coverage via their employers, the subsidies are a black box.

From Los Angeles Times

Medicare and Medicaid, social health programmes for the elderly and poor, will continue, but staffing shortages could lead to some interruptions for certain services.

From BBC

While Social Security and Medicare cheques would still be sent out, benefit verification and card issuance could stop.

From BBC

The Tylenol press conference was such a political disaster that other Dr. Mehmet Oz, a TV doctor who now heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, was deployed to soften the message.

From Salon