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A non-means-tested social welfare program in place today that addresses the health care needs of the elderly is known as?

User OliJG
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Final answer:

Medicare is a non-means-tested social welfare program offering health insurance to individuals over 65, established by the Social Security Act of 1965. Other programs like Medicaid, Veterans Health Administration, and CHIP also address different population segments. The growing elderly population is expected to increase spending on these programs.

Step-by-step explanation:

A non-means-tested social welfare program that addresses the healthcare needs of the elderly is called Medicare. Medicare is a federal program providing health insurance to individuals who are over the age of 65, regardless of income. This program was established as part of the Social Security Act of 1965 during Lyndon B. Johnson's presidency, contributing significantly to the social safety net for older Americans.

Alongside Medicare, other government-funded healthcare programs focus on various segments of the population: Medicaid serves those with very low incomes, the Veterans Health Administration caters to military veterans, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) supports children in families with relatively low incomes.

Given the aging U.S. population, with estimates suggesting that by 2030 one in five Americans will be over 65, spending on social welfare programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security is expected to rise, posing financial challenges for sustaining these programs.

User David Bern
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