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Medicare: The United States government’s health insurance program for older people and some who are younger but are disabled. Medicare is funded by the Social Security Administration. with a budget equal to about 10% of the entire US budget.

Medicare is currently available to about 40 million people: those who are 65 and older and to people with certain disabilities. Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays while Medicare Part B covers physician and outpatient services.

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare bill into law in the presence of former President Harry S. Truman in Independence, Missouri. Truman described the event as "a profound personal experience for me." During his presidency, Truman had attempted in vain to get a national health insurance program through Congress.

In 1966 the first Medicare card was issued by LBJ to Truman. The second card was given to the former First Lady, Bess Truman.

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