Final answer:
Medicare provides health insurance to individuals 65 and older but does not cover most long-term care services. Long-term care coverage typically requires personal savings, long-term care insurance, or Medicaid. Given the increasing elderly population, the costs and demand for long-term care are projected to increase.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to whether most individuals age 65 or older will have sufficient long-term care (LTC) coverage under Medicare. It is important to note that Medicare, the federal health insurance program established in 1965, primarily serves those 65 and older, covering about 40 million people. However, Medicare's coverage for LTC is limited. LTC often includes a range of services like nursing home care, home health care, and personal or adult day care services for individuals who are unable to care for themselves for a long period.
In reality, Medicare does not cover most long-term care services. Instead, it mainly covers short-term stays in nursing homes for rehabilitation after a hospital stay, and limited home health care services with strict qualifications. For long-term assistance, individuals often need to rely on personal savings, long-term care insurance, or Medicaid, once their resources are depleted. As the population of individuals over 65 grows, the demand for LTC and associated costs are expected to rise. The information about the participation of elderly Americans in political campaigns and their high voting rates highlights their potential political influence on healthcare issues.