Medicare

Medicare /Med·i·care/ (med´ĭ-kār) a program of the Social Security Administration which provides medical care to the aged.

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Med·i·care or med·i·care (md-kâr)

n.

A program under the US Social Security Administration that reimburses hospitals and physicians for medical care provided to qualifying people over 65 years old.

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Medicare

[med′iker]

1 a federally funded national health insurance program in the United States for people over 65 years of age or who meet other criteria. The program is administered in two parts. Part A provides basic protection against costs of medical, surgical, and psychiatric hospital care. Part B is a voluntary medical insurance program financed in part from federal funds and in part from premiums contributed by enrollees. Medicare enrollment is generally offered to people 65 years of age or older who are entitled to receive Social Security or railroad retirement benefits. Individuals under age 65 can be eligible if they are disabled or have end-stage renal disease.

2 (in Canada) the name of the national health insurance program.

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Medicare,

n.pr a federal insurance program enacted as Title XVIII of the Social Security Amendments that provides certain inpatient hospital services and physician services for all persons age 65 and older and eligible disabled individuals. The program is administered by the Health Care Financing Administration.

Medicare Part A,

n provides hospital insurance to all qualified beneficiaries under the Medicare criteria.

Medicare Part B,

n provides medical insurance coverage for services such as physician' s services, outpatient services, and home health care. Participation under Part B is voluntary, and beneficiaries pay monthly premiums. Part B is also called Supplementary Medical Insurance.

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Medicare

Managed Care A federal program run by HCFA/CMS that provides hospital and medical insurance protection for a significant minority in the US Components-Part A Compulsory hospitalization insurance, financed by contributions from employers, employees, and participants; Part B Voluntary supplementary medical insurance, which covers outpatient services, financed in part by monthly premiums paid by enrollees and by the federal government. See HCFA, HMO, Part A, Part B. Cf Medicaid, Socialized medicine.