Medicare. Public health care in the United States, always in a state of crisis, has two major components: Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare is run by the Social Security Administration, primarily for people over age 65 or people of any age who have certain diseases such as kidney failure. Medicare covers only a portion of medical expenses. Many eligible people supplement it with other types of health insurance.
Medicaid is a program that provides financial assistance for low income people. Medicaid funds come from both state and federal governments and are administered by the states.
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