Social Security Act Amendments

Acts
Social Security Act Amendments - Medicare, 1965
By Congress
Aug 12, 2006, 2:06pm

The Social Security Act Amendments was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on July 30, 1965, in Independence, MO. It established Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly, and Medicaid, a health insurance program for the poor.

LBJ signs Medicare Act (Social Security Amendments) with Harry Truman looking on, 07/30/1965; NARA

In 1965, the passage of the Social Security Act Amendments, popularly known as Medicare, resulted in a basic program of hospital insurance for persons aged 65 and older, and a supplementary medical insurance program to aid the elderly in paying doctor bills and other health care bills. It was funded by a tax on the earnings of employees, matched by contributions by employers, and was well received. In the first three years of the program, nearly 20 million beneficiaries enrolled in it.

Source: NARA
Citation: An act to provide a hospital insurance program for the aged under the Social Security Act with a supplementary medical benefits program and an expanded program of medical assistance, to increase benefits under the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance System, to improve the Federal-State public assistance programs, and for other purposes, July 30, 1965; Enrolled Acts and Resolutions of Congress, 1789-; General Records of the United States Government; Record Group 11; National Archives.

Review the The Social Security Act Amendments: Medicare - Social Security
Source: LII - Cornell Law School