For 57 million Americans, Medicare is just as important a social program as Social Security is for the more than 41 million retired workers currently receiving a monthly check. Though Medicare’s benefits may not always be tangible, the simple fact that the federal government subsidizes a percentage of eligible healthcare costs for Medicare enrollees (5 in 6 of whom are seniors aged 65 and up) is a comforting thing to know when you do actually require medical care.