Hacker News Reader

Because what people need in their 70s is "just scraping by"

For many, $1500/mo is living in the streets level of income. I have family that collected early and get like $900/mo. It's grim. Medicare/Medicaid is not free at all. There are lots of things that cost you additional money, that they don't have so they don't get all the medical care they need. Just what they can afford.

Medicare, not Medicaid, although she may be eligible to use Medicaid to supplement.[1]

[1]: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/help/medicaid