Elderly Americans are protected by three major entitlements: cash benefits from Social Security, universal health benefits from Medicare, and additional health benefits for low-income elderly from Medicaid. This book takes a hard look at how the major entitlements for the elderly can be improved, recognizing the constraints posed by the current budget climate and an aging population. The authors explore the needed improvements in responsiveness and efficiency in all three programs, and decide how best to use the savings these changes would generate. They propose many specific changes to ensure the reliability and integrity of these vital programs.