Medicare is the United States federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, certain younger individuals with disabilities, and those with end-stage renal disease or ALS. It is administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) within the Department of Health and Human Services. Coverage is organized into Parts A (hospital insurance), B (medical insurance), C (Medicare Advantage, offered by private insurers), and D (outpatient prescription drug coverage), and is financed through payroll taxes, beneficiary premiums, and general revenues.
As one of the largest purchasers of healthcare services and medicines in the U.S., Medicare influences access, pricing, and utilization of pharmaceuticals and medical technologies. Its claims and outcomes data are widely used for real-world evidence generation and comparative effectiveness research, shaping clinical guidelines and health policy—areas relevant to biopharma and adjacent segments of the chemical industry.
