title: Medicare: past, present and future.
abstract: The history of the Medicare program, including changes that have been enacted over the years in an effort to control spiraling costs, is reviewed. Medigap insurance and preventive medical care for the elderly are examined, as is the impact of Medicare coverage for the terminally ill. Trends indicate that the Medicare system as presently structured is not financially viable. The question is: what will replace it?
authors.affiliation: College of Business and Public Administration, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Honeycutt
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Colburn
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000639:trends*; D006278:Medicare / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000639:trends*; D011445:Prospective Payment System; D015895:Relative Value Scales; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States