Abstract:

The aging policies of the U.S. welfare state represent not only a response to the needs of the elderly, but also a response to the overall state of the economy & the needs of the private enterprise system. Policymakers frequently adjust programs for older persons to meet larger economic, social, & political needs. Recent changes in the Social Security & Medicare programs are reviewed, focusing on their implications for the future course of the U.S. welfare state. Policy proposals currently under consideration, including plans to provide catastrophic illness coverage under Medicare, & proposals to shift to need as a basis for determining benefits under Medicare & Social Security, are also examined. Particular attention is paid to the aging of the U.S. population, the increasingof private pension plan terminations, & the rising concern with federal budget deficits that affect support for welfare policy regarding the elderly.