Medicare and Medicaid: A New Chapter in American Care

What Happened?

The idea began in 1945, when President Harry Truman asked Congress to pass national health insurance. His plan was blocked by opponents who shouted about 'socialized medicine.' But the need never went away. As America aged and hospital costs soared, older adults were left behind—uninsured, unaffordable, and increasingly invisible to the private insurance market.

By the 1960s, over 17 million Americans were over 65, but only a fraction had health coverage. Private companies deemed seniors too risky. With public pressure mounting, Congress finally passed the Social Security Amendments of 1965.

President Lyndon B. Johnson flew to Independence, Missouri to sign the bill at the Truman Library, honoring the man who first tried. At the ceremony, Truman became the first Medicare recipient and received card #1. His moment had come, two decades later.

Medicare guaranteed hospital and medical insurance for people over 65. Medicaid provided health coverage for low-income families. Funded by payroll taxes and federal-state partnerships, these programs enrolled nearly 20 million people in just their first three years.

Later expansions extended coverage to people with disabilities and those with end-stage renal disease. In 2003, prescription drug coverage was added. Over time, the programs grew into lifelines—touching nearly half the U.S. population.

The 1965 signing marked a turning point. It was a statement that care for the vulnerable was a national responsibility, not an individual burden. Medicare and Medicaid didn’t just patch a hole in the system. They stitched together a new social contract.

Why It Matters

Medicare and Medicaid reshaped the fabric of American life. They recognized that growing old or being poor shouldn’t mean being left behind. These programs remain powerful symbols of what government can do when compassion meets courage. In a country still struggling with health care access, their legacy reminds us that dignity and health are worth fighting for—and protecting.