[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 13422-13423]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               50TH ANNIVERSARY OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today we celebrate a true milestone in our 
Nation's history, and we mark this reminder that basic health insurance 
is not a privilege for the wealthy, but a right, for every American. On 
July 30, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Social Security 
Amendments of 1965 into law, establishing the Medicare and Medicaid 
programs. For 50 years, these two programs have offered health care and 
economic security to millions of Americans and their families.
  The debate over the right to basic health insurance began in the 
1940s with President Harry Truman. At a time when just one in eight 
seniors had health care and were earning less than $1000 on average 
annually, President Truman sought to create a safety net to meet the 
needs of a growing population. It may be difficult for all of us in the 
generations of Americans born since that era to fully understand today, 
but before Medicaid and Medicare, when private health insurers could 
still discriminate against individuals based on their health, many 
seniors were either denied coverage entirely or priced out of health 
insurance. And for Americans living in poverty, health care was simply 
out of reach.
  The Social Security Amendments of 1965 offered a path forward. Today, 
Medicare and Medicaid cover a combined 110 million Americans, including 
seniors, persons with disabilities, and low-income Americans and their 
families. From cancer screenings to hospital coverage, yearly well-
visits, flu vaccinations, pediatric dental care and caregiver support, 
Medicare and Medicaid provide access to the basic health care services 
that all Americans deserve. And what a dramatic and tangible difference 
that has made and continues to make in the lives of millions of people.
  Through the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid took a step 
further. States that expanded Medicaid under the law saved nearly $2 
billion in health care costs while extending coverage to many, many 
more Americans. Closing the coverage gap known as the ``donut hole'' 
saved seniors on Medicare $15 billion in health care costs--a savings 
to seniors of $28 million in my home State of Vermont alone. The 
Affordable Care Act strengthened Medicare for future generations, 
extending the trust fund an additional 13 years as a result of savings 
to the program.
  It is worth remembering as well that in the early years of Medicare 
and Medicaid, as these programs were established and went through some 
growing pains, public opinion at first was tentative in supporting 
these major reforms. Over time, public support for and appreciation of 
the benefits of these programs has grown significantly. We can see some 
parallels in the way public opinion about the Affordable Care Act has 
continued to grow, as its benefits have become more widespread and more 
apparent in our daily lives.
  As we celebrate this important anniversary, I hope we all will 
remember how far these programs have come and

[[Page 13423]]

commit to keeping them strong for future generations. Strengthening 
Medicare and Medicaid is an economic investment in the well-being of 
our country, and I will fight for these programs for my children and my 
grandchildren.
  I am proud to celebrate an anniversary marking the Federal 
Government's promise of providing reassurance and stability for our 
Nation's most vulnerable citizens. I look forward to celebrating the 
success of Medicare and Medicaid for generations to come.

                          ____________________