Final answer:
Publicly sponsored health insurance for individuals 65 years or older is typically Medicare, a program that provides health insurance regardless of income, focused on age or disability.
Step-by-step explanation:
If your grandparents are 65 years or older and have a form of publicly sponsored health insurance, it is most likely Medicare. Medicare is a federal program that provides health insurance to all those over the age of 65, regardless of income. It is one of the two main publicly funded healthcare programs, the other being Medicaid, which provides services to people with very low incomes. Unlike Medicaid, Medicare is not based on income but on age or certain disabilities.
In 1965, Medicare became the most extensive health coverage legislation in American history, specifically designed to help citizens aged 65 and older with their primary medical care needs. Since its inception, it has covered around 40 million people. This program is an essential aspect of the healthcare system and provides necessary support to the elderly, making them a powerful interest group with high voter turnout rates in elections.