What if there's a single man or woman, who never married and never worked a day in his/her life.
He/she turns 65, and needs health care. Who pays for it?
do you know anyone like that?
It doesn't appear that they would be eligible for Medicare:
from Wiki:
In general, individuals are eligible for Medicare if:
They are 65 years or older and U.S. citizens or have been permanent legal residents for 5 continuous years, and they or their spouse has paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years.
or
They are under 65, disabled, and have been receiving either Social Security benefits or the Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for at least 24 months from date of entitlement (first disability payment).
or
They get continuing dialysis for end stage renal disease or need a kidney transplant.
or
They are eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance and have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease).
The 24 month exclusion means that people who become disabled must wait 2 years before receiving government medical insurance, unless they have one of the listed diseases or they are eligible for Medicaid.
Many beneficiaries are dual-eligible. This means they qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. In some states for those making below a certain income, Medicaid will pay the beneficiaries' Part B premium for them (most beneficiaries have worked long enough and have no Part A premium), and also pay for any drugs that are not covered by Part D.
In 2007, Medicare provided health care coverage for 43 million Americans, making it the largest single health care payer in the nation.[6] Enrollment is expected to reach 77 million by 2031, when the baby boom generation is fully enrolled.[7]
