Medicare

American  

[med-i-kair] / ˈmɛd ɪˌkɛər /

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.

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Medicare British  

/ 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

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Medicare ¹ Cultural  

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

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Medicare ² Cultural  

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.)

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Etymology

Origin of Medicare

medi(cal) + care

Example Sentences

What’s more, you can, I presume, continue working until you are 65 and qualify for Medicare.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

The federal government says it handed out more than $180 billion in improper payments last year, largely through major entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

After a disappointing 2025 and a fall in January, the stock has rebounded on an announced payment increase to Medicare Advantage insurers next year, as well as first quarter results that beat Wall Street expectations.

From Barron's • May 11, 2026

By not including your RMD in your taxable income, you may avoid phasing out of income sensitive tax credits or higher Medicare premiums, Westley says.

From Barron's • May 9, 2026

For all those years, as I paid her medical bills, as I filled in her 1040s and helped her with her Medicare paperwork and her will.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King