Medicare helps to pay for the essential health care of more than 40 million elderly and disabled Americans, but it is a program in trouble. Benefits have not kept pace with the best in health care, and the program will not be able to meet the demands of aging baby boomers who will begin enrolling in 2011.

Medicare helps to pay for the essential health care of more than 40 million elderly and disabled Americans, but it is a program in trouble. Benefits have not kept pace with the best in health care, and the program will not be able to meet the demands of aging baby boomers who will begin enrolling in 2011.