Medicare

Medicare is wasting hundreds of millions of dollars a year by failing to rein in doctors who routinely give patients pricey name-brand drugs when cheaper generic alternatives are available.

A new analysis by ProPublica finds that many doctors in the U.S. prescribe brand-name drugs to Medicare patients when generics can be dramatically cheaper -- and it's costing taxpayers hundreds of millions a year.

Medicare enrollment is already confusing enough. The new health care exchanges will only make it more so. And that could end up being costly for taxpayers.

Staffing cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services mean fewer cases of Medicare, Medicaid fraud are investigated.

The prescription drug plan has created millions of senior customers for the pharmaceutical industry over ten years.

Current recipients have different reactions. Some scholars say basing the amount of payments on need could make the program less popular.

Glenn Hubbard, former Chair of the White House Economic Council of Advisers under President George W. Bush, discusses the entitlement reform, the economic recovery, and taxes.

The government medical program for the elderly means seniors and their families have more money to spend on other things.

Just in time for the second presidential debate, Medicare, the patient, goes to see "Dr. Obama" and "Dr. Romney."

Vice President Joe Biden will face Congressman Paul Ryan on the debate stage tonight, and Paul Ryan's Medicare plan is sure to be a hot topic. Polling shows most Americans are against Ryan's voucher proposal, but do recognize the need for system reforms.