Covered: A Week-by-Week Look at the 1965 Politics that Created Medicare and Medicaid

Welcome to Covered: A Week-by-Week Look at the 1965 Politics that Created Medicare and Medicaid. Bob Rosenblatt, a Senior Fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance and former Los Angeles Times Washington correspondent, will blog on the maneuvers that led to the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid on July 30th, 1965 the first major expansion of U.S. social insurance to health care. Rosenblatt takes us back to the decisive winter of 1965: A newly reelected President Johnson has large congressional majorities and is committed to the idea of Medicare. Writing as if he were witnessing for the first time the political and legislative events that transpired 50 years ago, Rosenblatt provides us with an informative (perhaps even entertaining) look at leaders in the 89th Congress and other major players. Covered is written with the recognition that the effort to get universal coverage, let alone health care for the elderly and low-income individuals, was – and continues to be – a decades-long fight.

The National Academy of Social Insurance is commemorating the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid by providing the public and the policy community, through efforts such as this blog, with a platform for educational dialogue around the history and future of these two vital programs. We welcome questions, comments, and suggestions directly on Covered blog posts or by emailing Lee Goldberg, Vice President for Health Policy at lgoldberg[at]nasi.org.

Bob Rosenblatt is editor of the website, HelpWithAging, dealing with the finances of aging, including the costs of Medicare and Social Security. He can be reached at bobrosenblatt7@gmail.com.

Made possible with support from Anthem, Inc.

Blog Directory:

• July 30, 1965 – Post 30 – Johnson Signs Historic Medicare Bill Assuring Health Coverage for Millions 
• July 24, 1965 – Post 29 – Medicare Conferees Tackle Last Hurdle and Referee Fight Among Docs
• July 17, 1965 – Post 28 – Nursing Home Admission Rule Stirs Discontent in Medicare Debate
• July 10, 1965 – Post 27 – Senate Passes Medicare, Prepares for Conference with House over Disputes
• July 3, 1965 – Post 26 – Senate Wrestles with Medicare and Desegregation of Southern Hospitals
• June 26, 1965 – Post 25 – Finance Committee Restores Medicare bill, AMA Chief Calls Off Docs
• June 19, 1965 – Post 24 – Senate Finance Committee Attacks White House on Medicare Bill
• June 12, 1965 – Post 23 – White House in Political Battle Between Medical Specialists and Labor
• June 5, 1965 – Post 22 – Medicare Would Allow Expanded Benefits for Workers in Unions
• May 29, 1965 – Post 21 – Private Insurance Plans Will Run New Federal Health Program for Seniors
• May 22, 1965 – Post 20 – Doc Says Medicare Bill Unfair to Mentally Ill
• May 15, 1965 – Post 19 – Docs, Key Senator Back Drug Coverage in Medicare Proposal
• May 8, 1965 – Post 18 – Medicare May Not End Welfare for People with Long Hospital Stays
• May 1, 1965 – Post 17 – Soaring Health Costs May Leave Future Taxpayers with Big Medicare Tab
• April 24, 1965 – Post 16 – Health Bill Promises New Social Security Benefits for College Students and Divorcees
• April 17, 1965 – Post 15 – White House Tries to Ease Docs’ Fears of Medicare
• April 10, 1965 – Post 14 – House Passes Massive Expansion of Health Care Coverage
• April 3, 1965 – Post 13 – Millions of Kids to Get Health Care Access Under House Medicare Bill
• March 27, 1965 – Post 12 – Medicare Program Clears Major Hurdle with Approval by House Committee
• March 20, 1965 – Post 11 – House Panel Aims to Help Elderly in Poor Health Leave Mental Hospitals for Nursing Homes
• March 13, 1965 – Post 10 – Johnson Fearful About Medicare Price Tag
• March 6, 1965 – Post 09 – With Deft Legislative Move, Mills Clears Way for House Approval of Major New Health Plan
• February 27, 1965 – Post 08 – Docs and Labor Escalate Fight Over Health Plan for the Elderly
• February 20, 1965 – Post 07 – This Won’t Hurt A Bit — White House Reassures Docs, Hospitals on Medicare
• February 13, 1965 – Post 06 – State Welfare Directors Press Mills on Health Assistance for the Poor
• February 6, 1965 – Post 05 – AMA Blasts Administration’s Medicare Proposal
• January 27, 1965 – Post 04 – Key House Committee Considers Hospital Care for the Elderly
• January 23, 1965 – Post 03 – Health Coverage for Poor in Political Mix 
• January 16, 1965 – Post 02 – Johnson Seeks Broad Right to Health Care, Beyond Just Welfare  
• January 9, 1965 – Post 01 – Johnson Promises a New Push for Health Care for the Elderly 
  

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