answer:Medicare is the government managed healthcare plan for retirees. Most retirees lose their health insurance when they stop working, so this is the only affordable alternative. Society felt, back in the 60s, that retired people on limited or fixed incomes should have the dignity to have their health care needs met without becoming bankrupt. Medicare is supported by payroll taxes, somewhere around 1.45% (that may be an old rate). The problem is that the for-profit health industry costs continue to escalate much faster than inflation, and thus Medicare costs continue to grow at an alarming rate. The Health Care Reform should help reduce the overall costs. A huge opposition to Health Care Reform came from those who have Medicare, and do not want anyone else to receive an equivalent benefit.