health care for the aged; a federally administered system of health insurance available to persons aged 65 and over
"After turning sixty-five, my parents finally qualified for Medicare so they could afford their prescription medications."
The Canadian national health care system
"After moving to Toronto, she immediately enrolled in Medicare so that her doctor visits and hospital stays would be covered by the government."
In plain English: Medicare is a government health insurance program for older Americans and people with certain disabilities.
"My grandparents rely on Medicare to cover their doctor visits and hospital bills."
Usage: Medicare refers to Canada's publicly funded health care system that covers medically necessary services provided by doctors and in hospitals. It is not an insurance plan or a general term for medical aid, but specifically the national program administered by the government.
The system of government subsidies for health care for the elderly and disabled.
"After retiring, she spent her first month learning how to navigate Medicare's complex rules to ensure her prescription coverage was up to date."
Medicare is a blend of the words medical and care. It was formed to describe government-funded health insurance programs by combining these two familiar terms.