On July 30, 1965, the Medicaid and Medicare programs were signed into law through the Social Security Amendments of 1965, which established that the federal government would assist states in providing health care cost relief to their residents. Originally, Medicare covered hospital care (Part A) and physician care (Part B) for Americans 65 and over, and Medicaid was meant to help low-income individuals receive long-term care for little to no cost. In the 61 years that these programs have been around, there have been multiple amendments and expansions, including in 1972, when it was established that people under the age of 65 with long-term disabilities and end-stage renal disease could qualify for Medicare; in 1982, when it was established that children with disabilities who can be cared for at home could qualify for Medicaid; and in 1988, when the Family Supports Act was signed and required states to provide 12 months of transitional support to families who no longer needed the safety net.
There were other ways in which Medicaid and Medicare were expanded, offering coverage for more specific needs, such as prescriptions and specialized care, and allowing more people to qualify. However, the most notable expansion happened in 2010, with the passing of the Affordable Care Act. The ACA made it so that affordable health insurance was available on a wider scale and aimed to lower health care costs for people in general. After the law went into effect, it is estimated that about 20 million people gained health care coverage.
The reason why these programs are so important is that they give vulnerable people who otherwise would not have the means to access health care, which is a human right, a chance. Medicaid and Medicare, as it stands now, and even before the One Big Beautiful Bill passed, were nowhere near perfect, and in a lot of ways needed reform. However, these programs are a stepping stone in achieving health equity, and making it more difficult for people in this country to receive care is a step backward.
In just 61 years since Medicaid and Medicare were signed into law, it is estimated that 10 million people could lose health care coverage due to recent rollbacks. We must advocate for people’s right to live a healthy, sustainable life, and that includes having access to quality healthcare regardless of income and immigration status.