Facts & Statistics

• Medicare is a national health insurance program for Americans over the age of 65 and for younger Americans with disabilities.
• Nearly 44 million people are enrolled in the Medicare program: 37 million are over the age of 65 and 7 million are under the age of 65.
• Scientific evidence has shown that preventive services (chronic disease screening) and health interventions (promoting physical activity) can significantly improve the health of individuals as they age.
• In 2005, Medicare added diabetes and heart disease preventive health screenings, as well as a one-time "Welcome to Medicare" physical exam.
• Medicare's preventive care can help you stay healthy by covering services such as diabetes and cardiovascular screening, cancer testing, flu shots, and smoking and tobacco cessation programs.
• More women die from heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular disease than men.
• Among primary care physicians, only 8% know that more women than men die each year from CVD.