WASHINGTON, July 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today AARP is pleased to commemorate the 50^th 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

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