Legislation1965
Medicare and Medicaid Established
Congress passed the Social Security Amendments of 1965, creating Medicare and Medicaid. President Johnson signed the bill at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, with former President Harry Truman as a guest of honor.
Why It Matters
Medicare and Medicaid fundamentally reshaped the American social safety net, providing health coverage for seniors and low-income Americans and establishing the principle that access to healthcare is a public responsibility.