Medicare

Medicare was created in 1965 when people over 65 found it virtually impossible to get private health insurance coverage. Medicare has made access to health care a universal right for Americans once they reach age 65. This has helped improve the health and longevity of older Americans.

Social Secruity

Social Security Amendments of 1965 (PL 89-97)

• Established Medicare Benefits
• Enacted July 30, 1965

Social Security Amendments of 1972 (PL 92-603)

• Expanded coverage to include individuals under the age of 65 with long-term disabilities and individuals with end-stage renal disease
• Enacted October 30, 1972

Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1980

• Expanded home health services and brought Medigap - or Medicare supplement insurance - under federal oversight.
• Enacted July 21, 1980

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA)

• Amended the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to give some employees the ability to continue health insurance coverage after leaving employment
• Enacted April 7, 1986

Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 (PL 100-360)

• Added a true limit to the Medicare's total out-of-pocket expenses for Part A and Part B, along with a limited prescription drug benefit.
• Repealed through Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Repeal Act of 1989

Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (PL 108-173)

• Added an optional prescription drug benefit known as Part D, which is provided only by private insurers.
• Enacted December 8, 2003

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010

• Reform provisions intended to contain Medicare costs while increasing revenue, improving and streamlining its delivery systems, and increasing services to the program.
• Enacted March 23, 2010