Today marks the 60th anniversary of Medicaid and Medicare. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the bill that led to the creation of Medicare and Medicaid. With a stroke of his pen, President Johnson revolutionized health care in the United States. Nearly 20 million people enrolled in these programs within the first three years of the bill becoming law.
Fans of political history know the process of passing these programs was no small feat. While it only took President Johnson a moment to sign his name and let the ink dry, this legislation was decades in the making. Presidents Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy all had well-publicized platforms that aimed to create variations of both Medicare and Medicaid. However, all three had to abandon their pursuits due to strong opposition. Thirty years after initially being included as part of President Roosevelt’s plans, President Johnson capitalized on timing and political momentum to push these programs across the finish line.
In the six decades since, Medicare and Medicaid have become the foundation of this country’s health care system. Millions of Americans rely on these programs to access vital health care services every single day. In Massachusetts, nearly half of all residents receive their health care coverage under Medicare’s and Medicaid’s umbrellas.
Stop and think about that for just a minute. Almost 50% of people in the Commonwealth receive Medicaid or Medicare coverage. This means, statistically, every other person you pass on the street relies on these programs for health care, including doctor’s appointments, prescription medications and preventive testing.
Despite the clear necessity of these programs, opposition to Medicare and Medicaid – especially Medicaid – hasn’t subsided much since President Roosevelt’s day. This reality became even more apparent with the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” earlier this month. This budget reconciliation bill will slash federal Medicaid funding by nearly one trillion dollars over the next decade. The total alone is staggering but the cuts become even more egregious when considering the impact. Hundreds of thousands of MassHealth members are at risk of losing coverage.
While we celebrate Medicaid and Medicare’s milestone birthday today, we’re also taking note of the setbacks and wins throughout the programs’ history. Health Care For All remains committed to fighting for all residents to have access to equitable and affordable health care.
Davis Jackson is the Communications & Marketing Coordinator at Health Care For All.
