Abstract

Next victim: Medicare

The article presents information on Medicare policy in the U.S. Medicare faces a more immediate financing problem. Though long-term projections of these programs' financial future are little more than educated guess-work, Social Security is considered sound until 2032, while Medicare's Hospital Insurance (Part A) Trust Fund runs out in 2008. Medicare is an administrative and regulatory system whose complexity makes reform exceedingly difficult. Nevertheless, a complete overhaul of Medicare is on Congress's plate this year. Most Republicans and many conservative Democrats-spurred by an alliance of anti-Big Government ideologues and private-sector healthcare interests eager for a larger share of the Medicare pie-are pushing schemes that would privatize Medicare, loosening regulations and opening up the system to free-for-all market competition.