medicare
medicare Lexical Profile
medicare Game Scores & Validity
• noun
American A federal government health insurance program in the United States that provides medical coverage primarily for people aged 65 and older and for certain younger people with disabilities.
"Once she turned sixty-five, she enrolled in Medicare to help cover her hospital and prescription drug expenses."
Australian A publicly funded universal health care insurance scheme in Australia and Canada that guarantees citizens and permanent residents access to medical and hospital services.
"Under the national medicare system, visits to a general practitioner are subsidized by the government."
Word Nuance & Usage
In the United States, do not confuse Medicare (which primarily covers individuals aged 65 and older) with Medicaid (which provides health coverage for individuals and families with limited income).
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-20th century as a blend of "medical" and "care," popularized in the United States with the passage of the Social Security Amendments of 1965.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.