Final answer:
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for individuals over 65 and some younger disabled individuals, and is part of the United States' effort to make health care accessible for those who find private health insurance unaffordable. Other programs like Medicaid, the Indian Health Service, and the Veterans Health Administration serve other demographic groups with differing eligibility requirements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medicare is a government-sponsored health insurance program in the United States that provides coverage to individuals who are 65 years of age and older, as well as to some younger people who meet specific disability standards. Initiated as part of the Social Security Act of 1965, Medicare was designed to address the lack of affordable private health insurance for the elderly, given that their average health care costs tend to be high. The program is a key component of the federal government's efforts to ensure that seniors have access to necessary medical care.
Aside from Medicare, there are other government-funded health-care programs such as Medicaid, which serves people with very low incomes and certain eligibility requirements; the Indian Health Service for Native Americans; the Veterans Health Administration for military veterans; and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for children in families with relatively low incomes.