Medicare, Social Security Disability Fund Headed in Different Directions

The Wall Street Journal (online registration required): WASHINGTON—Medicare's hospital-insurance program spent less on benefits in 2013 than it did the previous year, despite covering an additional 1 million people, according to a federal report released Monday, the latest sign that growth in health costs is tapering off.

The findings come in the annual report card from the trustees of Medicare and Social Security. They project Medicare will be able to continue paying full hospital benefits for its elderly or disabled clients without any changes in the law through 2030—four years later than last year's estimate.

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