Friday, July 30, 1965: Medicare and Medicaid

INDEPENDENCE, Mo., July 31 -- President Johnson signed his $6.5 billion medicare bill yesterday after journeying more than 1,000 miles to share "this time of triumph" with former President Truman. The new law, said the 81-year-old former president, will mean dignity, not charity "for those of us who have moved to the sidelines." Then, one hand on his cane, Mr. Truman stepped aside as Mr. Johnson told how the vast program of medical insurance for the elderly would help millions of Americans. ... 

     This document was a 133-page bill which soared past its final congressional test Wednesday. At a $6.5 billion price tag, it will provide hospital insurance for Americans over 65, set up a voluntary program to cover the doctors' bills of elderly Americans and boost Social Security benefits. Mr. Johnson's signature set in motion machinery that will reach Social Security pensioners in September -- in the form of retroactive increases in their government checks. The health insurance programs go into operation next July 1.

     -- From The Associated Press (full story: @)

* "Medicare and Social Security: Here're Your Rights and Benefits" (Newspaper Enterprise Association, July 1965): @

* "Who's Eligible for Medicare?" (NEA, July 1965): @
* "Medicaid Cost May Be Gigantic" (NEA, July 1966): @
* "Program of Medicare Goes In Effect Today" (United Press International, July 1, 1966): @
* "Happy Birthday, Medicare!" (Government Printing Office, 2014; includes link to full text of law): @

* President Johnson's remarks (LBJ Library): @

* "50th Anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid" (LBJ Library): @
* Summary (U.S. Senate): @

* Summary (Harry S. Truman Library and Museum): @
* Summary and links (www.policyalmanac.org): @
* National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare (1999): @
* Medicare Timeline (Kaiser Family Foundation): @
* "Generations: Medicare at 50 Years" (Kaiser Family Foundation): @
* "When Medicare launched, nobody had any clue whether it would work" (The Washington Post, 2013): @ 

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