The vulnerability of many Medicare beneficiaries is revealed in this report, recently placed online by the Commonwealth Fund. Medicare currently insures 34 million older Americans as well as five million permanently disabled people under 65. Not only is this population "generally at high risk for acute and chronic illness," but 68 percent have incomes below 200 percent of the poverty level or have recurring health problems. Based on a 1997 survey of Medicare Beneficiaries, the report "highlights the challenges facing many Medicare beneficiaries and the importance of addressing the needs of low-income and other high-risk segments of the Medicare population." The full text of the report is available online, including an executive summary, survey and study methodology, and numerous survey charts and tables.