Within five years of the program 's creation , 97 percent of the elderly had hospital coverage . Zelizer : Democrats nervous about expanding government role in health care . He says Medicare is a strong case of government positively affecting health care . Comment: Zelizer : Today 40 million Americans rely on the program , along with their families .
Zelizer : Democrats nervous about expanding government role in health care . He says Medicare is a strong case of government positively affecting health care . Comment: Zelizer : Today 40 million Americans rely on the program , along with their families .