Facing up to Medicare's challenge

Medicare is the largest public health program in the US, providing the major source of medical insurance for elderly and disabled people. It is also one of the most popular public programs, enjoying widespread support for both its beneficiaries and the population as a whole. However, one does not have to look at the data for very long to conclude that major changes in Medicare and its financing will be required in the future. Whatever the outcome of Medicare over the next year or two, the program is likely to be a continuing part of the public policy debate well into the next century. No single set of changes, no single set of commission recommendations is likely to resolve the issues.