<P> In the United States , Medicare is a single - payer , national social insurance program administered by the U.S. federal government since 1966 , currently using about 30 -- 50 private insurance companies across the United States under contract for administration . United States Medicare is funded by a payroll tax , premiums and surtaxes from beneficiaries , and general revenue . It provides health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older who have worked and paid into the system through the payroll tax . It also provides health insurance to younger people with some disability status as determined by the Social Security Administration , as well as people with end stage renal disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis . </P>
<P> In the United States , Medicare is a single - payer , national social insurance program administered by the U.S. federal government since 1966 , currently using about 30 -- 50 private insurance companies across the United States under contract for administration . United States Medicare is funded by a payroll tax , premiums and surtaxes from beneficiaries , and general revenue . It provides health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older who have worked and paid into the system through the payroll tax . It also provides health insurance to younger people with some disability status as determined by the Social Security Administration , as well as people with end stage renal disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis . </P>
when did medicare begin in the united states
when did medicare begin in the united states
1966
1966