Medicare showing its age

Four decades after it was instituted to help America's older citizens maintain their health, Medicare itself is now showing its age. The program helps nearly 40 million Americans pay for health care. However, it does so at a cost to recipients and the taxpayer that political leaders and economists agree can't be maintained as the Baby Boom generation reaches retirement age.

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Public opinion does not side with most proposed Medicare reforms

As Washington turns its attention to shoring up Medicare, the debate has centered on increased funding for the trust fund while looking at ways to reform the 34-year-old program. But how do Americans feel about lawmakers' plans for change to the Medicare safety net?

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Paying for prescription drugs worries Medicare recipients

Medicare was designed in 1965 -- the same year the '65 Chevy Impala rolled off the showroom floor. The car lacks some features you'd expect to be standard today. And so does Medicare: features like coverage for prescriptions.

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Medicare commission's failure doesn't mean debate will go away

Tuesday's failure of the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare to agree on a plan to salvage the strapped health-insurance program doesn't mean that the debate, or the reforms the board was considering, are going away.

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• Slower spending is likely to postpone Medicare crisis (3-29-99)
• Democrats say Republican budget sacrifices Medicare for tax cuts (3-18-99)
• The flavor of Medicare (3-17-99)
• Clinton, Congress vow to push ahead on Medicare (3-17-99)
• Paying for prescription drugs worries Medicare recipients (3-16-99)
• Medicare commission's failure doesn't mean debate will go away (3-16-99)
• Medicare showing its age (3-15-99)
• Public opinion does not side with most proposed Medicare reforms (3-15-99)
• Prescription drugs woes -- Seniors often foot the bill under Medicare (2-25-99) • Prescription drugs woes -- Seniors often foot the bill under Medicare (2-25-99)
• Federal campaign enlists seniors as Medicare 'fraud busters' (2-24-99)
• Clinton asks for bipartisan support of Social Security, Medicare plan (2-3-99)
• Medicare options -- Which plan to choose? (2-3-99)
• Clinton proposes tax credit for long-term care of elderly, disabled (1-4-99)
• Commission begins debate on ways to save Medicare (12-3-98)
• The HMO debate: What Seniors Need to Know Now (10-29-98)
• Study finds healthy habits slash Medicare costs (10-14-98)
• Bipartisan commission proposes Social Security rescue plan (5-19-98)
• Social Security, Medicare buoyed by strong economy (4-28-98)
• Clinton unveils plan for expanding Medicare coverage (1-8-98)
• Bipartisan Medicare consensus hampered by means-testing battle (CQ, 7-29-97)
• House opposes raising Medicare age eligibility (7-11-97)
• Clinton May Back Higher Medicare Premiums (7-9-97)
• Proposed Medicare changes have aging nation skittish (6-26-97)
• Massive budgets chart course to balance, revamp Medicare (6-25-97)
• Senate approves Medicare changes (6-24-97)

The National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare finished its work on Tuesday. Check out their new proposal to prevent Medicare for going bankrupt in 2008.

The flavor of Medicare

Everyday in shopping malls, car dealer, and ice cream stores market forces are at work. Consumers are making choices. It works for ice cream. Could it also work for health care for the elderly?

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Clinton, Congress vow to push ahead on Medicare

President Bill Clinton and key congressmen said they will continue to work for a Medicare overhaul this year, even as they surveyed the wreckage left by an advisory commission that was unable to agree on a plan to save the program.

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• National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare
• AARP Web site
• American Association of Health Plans
• American Hospital Association
• American Medical Association
• Americans for Free Choice in Medicine
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
• Consumers Union
• Families USA
• Healthcare Leadership Council
• Health Insurance Association of America
• Medicare -- Official U.S. Web site
• National Center for Policy Analysis
• National Coalition for Patient Rights
• National Coalition on Health Care
• Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 1998
• Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

Do you think the eligibility age for Medicare should be increased from 65 to 67? Discuss it with other your fellow AllPolitics readers on our "Politics of Health Care" message board.

Also: Aging in America

What do you think about Medicare reform? We want to know. Drop us an e-mail. Don't forget to include you name and hometown. We'll post a sampling of your letters in the next installment of Voter's Voice.