Medicare seems to be as much of a myth as the economic stimulus check & social security. Basically, anyone who really needs a government program to survive is dead already.

Medicare coverage is getting shrunk & pushed back to later ages just like social security. No-one ever qualifies for the full benefit. Medicare part A covers ER visits only, but is free. Medicare part B covers doctor visits, but has a premium. Medicare part A has a $1500 deductible. Part B has premiums just like private insurance, currently $2000/year. The costs are rising 20% every year. There is no medicare for dentists.

The horror stories about health insurance after retirement are all coming from married breadwinners. Health insurance is the single factor determining their retirement age. There's nothing about what single men are in for.

The amount lions have paid in medicare tax has equaled private insurance. If it was blindly put into the stonk market, it would have paid for a luxurious insurance plan. Combined with the premiums & deductibles for medicare, it's worse than any private insurance.

In 2009, the media was telling people "this is why you don't want to put your social security in the stonk market". Good grief. That was exactly the time you did want to put your social security in the stonk market.