WASHINGTON, July 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Today AARP is pleased to commemorate the 50th
Anniversary of Medicare, the federal health insurance program for
Americans age 65 and older, and younger people with certain
disabilities and health conditions.
"Medicare represents health security for all Americans," said
AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins. "For fifty years, AARP has advocated for
strengthening and improving the Medicare program that is so
critical to the health of tens of millions of people today and to
future generations."
President Lyndon Johnson signed
Medicare into law 50 years ago on July 30,
1965. Twenty years earlier, President Harry Truman advocated for government-provided
health insurance for the elderly, saying there should be "Health
security for all, regardless of residence, station, or race,
everywhere in the United
States."
AARP Founder Dr. Ethel Percy
Andrus said, "We believe that the health of our senior
citizens is the concern of all our people. Once a luxury, [health
protection] is now considered a necessity in the same category as
food, clothing and shelter. We maintain that is the responsibility
of society to make available to every older person the best and the
least expensive types of medical protection."
Fifty years ago, 19 million people were enrolled in Medicare.
Today, 56 million people are covered. With the increasing
population of Americans age 65 and older, the number of people in
Medicare is expected to double by 2030.
"Before Medicare came into existence, very few older Americans
could afford health insurance, if insurers would insure them at
all," said Jenkins. "Thanks to Medicare, all Americans age 65 and
older are guaranteed access to health coverage—they can't be denied
because of their age or health condition."
Today, Medicare enjoys high approval ratings from older
Americans. According to a recent MedPAC-sponsored survey, 88% of
Medicare beneficiaries report being very (68%) or somewhat
satisfied (20%) with their health care.
As the health care system faces new challenges in the future,
AARP will continue advocating for responsible, commonsense
solutions to strengthen Medicare—including lowering prescription
drug costs, improving health care coordination, and cracking down
on over-testing, waste, and fraud—to ensure Medicare's promise of
health security for current and future generations.
Additional AARP Consumer Resources:
- Medicaid & Medicare News – News, updates, and tips for
consumers to make the most of their health care
coverage.
- Medicare Q & A Tool – Provides fast access to
easy-to-understand answers about Medicare. (Also available in a
mobile-friendly format and in Spanish).
- Medicare Webinars – Join us on October
29 at 2 pm ET for a free
webinar "Preparing for Medicare Open Enrollment."
- Understanding Your Medicare Statement – A decoder tool to help
people read their Medicare statements and watch for fraud.
- Medicare for Dummies – This book by AARP Medicare expert
Patricia Barry gives accurate
information that steers people clear of bad advice and costly
pitfalls.
- For more information on Medicare, visit
aarp.org/Medicareat50.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helps
people turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities,
strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most
to families such as healthcare, employment and income security,
retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from
financial abuse. We advocate for individuals in the marketplace by
selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry
the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a
wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for
lifestyle tips, news and educational information, AARP produces
AARP The Magazine, the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP
Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP
Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanish-language website addressing
the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse
candidates for public office or make contributions to political
campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated
charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to
older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers,
donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states,
the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at
www.aarp.org.
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SOURCE AARP