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What did seniors use before Medicare? A Historical Look at Senior Healthcare

Before Medicare was enacted in 1965, only about half of Americans aged 65 and older had some form of hospital insurance. This stark reality meant that for many elderly individuals, navigating healthcare was a complex and often devastating financial challenge. Before Medicare, the elderly relied on a patchwork system of private insurance, state and local aid, and charity care, which often proved insufficient and left many uninsured.