Final answer:
Mike, at age 60, can continue his employer's group health insurance and may become eligible for Medicare at 65 or earlier if he meets certain conditions. Other programs are for specific groups like veterans or low-income families, but primarily, Medicare is there to cover people over 65.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mike, who is still employed at age 60, wants to know what health insurance coverage he is eligible to receive. He has a few options available to him. Since he is not yet 65, he is not automatically eligible for Medicare, the public healthcare system that primarily offers insurance to people over sixty-five years old. However, if he has certain disabilities or conditions, he may qualify for Medicare before 65. Otherwise, his options are likely to be:
- Continuation of group health: Depending on his employment situation, Mike may continue to be covered under his employer's group health insurance plan.
- Reapplication for group health: If Mike changes jobs, he may need to reapply for group health insurance at his new employer.
- Both group health and Medicare: When Mike turns 65, he will become eligible for Medicare, and he may also choose to retain coverage under a group health plan if still employed, working together with Medicare benefits.
Notably, other government-funded healthcare programs target different demographics, such as military veterans and children in families with relatively low incomes. In 1965, Medicare became law, significantly expanding health coverage in American history, and began assisting citizens 65 and older with their medical care needs.