Medicare

Medicare

The Social Security Act of 1965 was signed into law on July 30, 1965, by President Lyndon B. Johnson as amendments to existing Social Security legislation. This legislation established the Medicare program.

Medicare is a social insurance program administered by the United States government, providing health insurance coverage to people who are aged 65 and over; to those who are under 65 and are permanently physically disabled or who have a congenital physical disability; or to those who meet other special criteria. The "Original Medicare" plan, i.e. Medicare without Medicare Advantage added on, coverage extends to 80% of any given medical cost; the remaining 20% of cost must be paid either a Medicare Advantage plan, which is a "supplemental insurance" from a private health insurance company, or with out-of-pocket via the patient's own personal funds.

Cry Wolf Quotes

We are going on the assumption that this is not socialized medicine. Let me tell you here and now it is socialized medicine.

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Rep. James Utt (R-CA).
04/08/1965 | Full Details | Law(s): Medicare

I have always maintained that if a program is to be successful, it must... be voluntary... based on need and must not be financed through a payroll tax.

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Sen. Thruston B. Morton (R-KY).
08/08/1965 | Full Details | Law(s): Medicare

[Medicare will usher in] federal programs that will invade every area of freedom as we have know it in this country.

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From Ronald Reagan’s 1961 taped anti-Medicare message, “Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine” paid for by AMA and AMPAC.
01/01/1961 | Full Details | Law(s): Medicare

[Write to your congressional representative against the health care reform proposal or] we will awake to find that we have socialism.

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From an AMA recording by Ronald Reagan, "Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine."
01/01/1961 | Full Details | Law(s): Medicare