Don Miller, age 16, of Bennington, Vt., for his question:

CAN YOU EXPLAIN MEDICARE AND MEDICAID?

Medicare and Medicaid are programs of medical care for the aged and for the needy, respectively, in the United States. The Medicare and Medicaid programs are under the direction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Medicare is the popular name for the federal health insurance program for persons 65 years of age and over. The program, which went into effect in 1966, was first administered by the Social Security Administration. In 1977 the program was transferred to the newly created Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).

Beginning in July 1973, Medicare was extended to persons under the age of 65 who have certain disabling conditions.

Medicaid, a federal state program, is usually operated by state welfare or health departments within the guidelines issued by the HCFA. The people who are eligible include families and certain children who qualify for public assistance and may include aged, blind and disabled adults who are eligible for the Supplemental Security Income program of the Social Security Administration.