Medicare and the disadvantaged elderly: objectives and outcomes.

Abstract

Medicare aimed, above all, to improve access to health care services for the most disadvantaged elderly by removing distributional, attitudinal, and financial barriers. Legislative intent was based on sketchy statistical evidence of need and enriched by extensive testimony of hardship. By more precise measurements, the mature Medicare program is shown to have been largely successful. Yet, some problems of access remain, and some costly side effects are identified.