By Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
On July 30th, our country will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Medicare and Medicaid programs that have helped to improve the health of our nation and have ensured that all of our citizens can access quality health care. I remain in full support of a strong Medicare program and have advocated for the expansion of Medicaid in states, such as Texas, where millions of residents remain uninsured.
According to federal data, nearly one of every three Americans is covered by one of the two programs. The legislation giving birth to the landmark programs was signed into law by President Lyndon Baines Johnson twenty years after a health coverage plan proposed by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 was rejected by Congress. In fact, President Johnson presented the first Medicare Cards to President Harry Truman and his wife, First Lady Bess Truman in 1966.
Before the creation of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, nearly half of all senior citizens in America were without health insurance. This caused tremendous financial strain on families, forcing some into bankruptcy as they battled serious health challenges.
Today, more than 100 million people receive quality health care through Medicare or Medicaid. Because of the programs, they are able to live with the peace of mind and dignity that comes with affordable health coverage and economic security.
Approximately 55 million Americans receive health care coverage through Medicare. Beneficiaries are eligible for preventive services, various health screenings, flu shots and other routine care. Medicare also covers prescription drugs, supplies, lab tests, and hospital stays.
Medicaid benefits nearly 70 million Americans, including 33 million children who are covered under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Low-income individuals, children, pregnant women, and individuals who have physical or mental disabilities are eligible for essential services such as annual physical examinations, prenatal care and dental care.
In 2010, when President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation was created, requirements for Medicaid eligibility were adjusted and enrollment requirements were simplified. In Congress, I intend to continue my work to improve and protect Medicare and Medicaid.
I will fight any and all efforts to place the programs into the hands of private operators, to cut funding of these vital programs, or any attempts to play political games with people’s health and wellness. Medicare and Medicaid have worked well for millions of Americans during the past fifty years, and with continued improvements and congressional guidance, they will continue to serve eligible citizens for many years to come.
