Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • Freed Up
    • The Soho Forum Debates
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Print Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Subscriber Support

Log In

Create new account

Policy

Medicare Fun Fact of the Day

Peter Suderman | 2.18.2011 12:55 PM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Via Avik Roy's new blog at Forbes:

In 1965, government experts projected that in 1990, on an inflation-adjusted basis, Medicare would cost $12 billion. In reality, Medicare in 1990 cost $107 billion. Oops.

This is what Arnold Kling means when he talks about "expert failure."

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: Reason.tv: Creating a Free State - Filmmaker Christina Heller on Building a Libertopia in New Hampshire

Peter Suderman is features editor at Reason.

PolicyNanny StateMedicareObamacare
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL Add Reason to Google
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Show Comments (38)

Latest

Brickbat: Ask Questions Later

Charles Oliver | 9.1.2026 4:00 AM

The 8th Circuit Lets the Government Retroactively Repair Unconstitutional Gun Cases Against Pot Smokers

Jacob Sullum | 8.31.2026 4:50 PM

A Liberal Think Tank and an Air Force Major Are Trump's Latest Targets for Speech Policing

Joe Lancaster | 8.31.2026 3:36 PM

Cops in Polk County, Georgia, Fatally Shoot Petting Zoo Donkey

C.J. Ciaramella | 8.31.2026 12:59 PM

What Craigslist and Backpage Can Tell Us About the Meta Settlement

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 8.31.2026 12:25 PM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS Add Reason to Google

© 2026 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Reason's July 4 Special!

For America's 250th, Get 2 Years of Reason for $17.76

Celebrate your independence with a subscription to Reason magazine, your most trusted source of honest, insightful news and analysis.

Subscribe to Reason