Government benefits. The government is in the insurance game and in Quotes Chimp in a big way. Medicare is a health insurance program mostly limited to those age 65 and over. Social Security, among other benefits, provides a form of income insurance (somewhat akin to an annuity) that guarantees a basic level of benefits in return for payments (taxes) paid during working years. Some government entities sell insurance. Others help pay for the cost of insurance that would otherwise be unavailable or cost prohib�itive. Parts 6 and 7 will describe many of these government plans and benefits in detail.