R. Anton Braun, Karen A. Kopecky, and Tatyana Koreshkova. Working Paper 2013-2 (July). Do Social Security, Medicaid and other means-tested social insurance programs benefit retirees? The authors find that means-tested social insurance programs enhance welfare by providing the aged with insurance against medical expense risks such as nursing home stays. When these programs are available, the authors find there is no need for Social Security.