Medicare Now and in the Future

The Kaiser Family Foundation has published a new Medicare issue brief. The brief identifies issues the incoming President will face during the next 4-8 years and lists questions consumers may ask to compare the candidates' proposals. Medicare plays a central role in broader discussions about the future of entitlement programs. Together, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security account for more than 40 percent of the federal budget. Given ongoing concerns about the state of the economy, the candidates’ positions on these popular but fiscally challenged programs are of profound importance to the retirement security of current and future retirees.