Final answer:
Medicare is a federal government program providing health insurance to those over 65 and to certain people with disabilities, established by the Social Security Act of 1965. Unlike Medicare, Medicaid is administered by states and provides health insurance to low-income and disabled individuals, with federal assistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medicare is a federal government program that provides health insurance for individuals over the age of 65, as well as people with disabilities who meet certain criteria. It is part of a broader suite of publicly funded healthcare programs which includes Medicaid, a joint federal and state program for low-income individuals; the Indian Health Service for Native Americans; the Veterans Health Administration for military veterans; and the Children's Health Insurance Program for eligible children in families with relatively low incomes. Medicare was established as part of the Social Security Act of 1965, and it is important to understand the distinction between Medicare and Medicaid, as the latter is administered by individual states with federal funding and guidelines. While both programs were created to address different populations with varying needs, their inception under the Great Society initiative was driven by the recognition that certain groups may not receive affordable health insurance through the free market.