Which group of individuals is primarily covered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)?

The primary group of individuals covered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) includes people over the age of 65 and disabled individuals. This is due to the fundamental mission of CMS, which is to administer the nation’s major healthcare programs, notably Medicare and Medicaid.

Medicare is specifically designed to provide health coverage for seniors aged 65 and older, as well as certain younger individuals who are disabled or who have specific medical conditions such as end-stage renal disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This demographic is central to CMS's role because Medicare serves as a critical source of health insurance for older adults, helping to manage their healthcare costs as they age.

Furthermore, the inclusion of disabled individuals in this coverage underscores CMS's commitment to providing essential health services to populations that may otherwise face significant financial barriers to accessing necessary medical care.

Other groups mentioned, such as individuals under the age of 40, unemployed individuals, and students, are not specifically covered by CMS programs in the same way that the elderly and disabled are. For instance, while some unemployed individuals might qualify for Medicaid based on income and other criteria, they do not represent a primary focus of CMS's core mandates. Consequently, option B accurately encapsulates the main demographic served by CMS