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david martin, cbs news, the pentagon. >> couric: two other big programs that can't be allowed to fail are medicare and social security. but they and other entitlements are also being targeted by the commission. all told, they account for more than six out of every $10 the government spends. social security makes up 20% of the total budget, medicare 13%. that health insurance program for americans 65 and over is extremely popular but very expensive. so as national correspondent ben tracy reports, reining it in will require some tough choices as well. >> reporter: the challenge for medicare is to keep the program alive while also keeping aging patients alive. 47 million americans are on medicare at a cost of $468 billion, about 13% of the federal budget. barbara hayes is on medicare. she's dying of colon cancer, i could have six days. i could have six months. i don't know. >> reporter: for her recent