Medicare in the USA: a review of 45 years of health provision.

ABSTRACT

Medicare, the federal health insurance in the United States of America for senior citizens 65 and older, and for disabled persons under 65, celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2010. 2010 also marked the introduction of major healthcare reform in the USA, the first significant overhaul since the 1960s. As part of the new healthcare reform, Medicare will serve as the laboratory for testing measures of efficiency and effectiveness in healthcare services, administration, and education.