Medicare Act Of 1965
An Era With A Greater Emphasis On Public Health Issues
On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Social Security Act Amendments, popularly known as the Medicare bill.
Purpose
It established Medicare, a health insurance program for the elderly, and Medicaid, a health insurance program for the poor
First Two Cards
Former President Truman participated in the signing ceremony with President Johnson. Harry S. Truman and Bess Truman received Medicare registration cards numbers one and two. At the time, Mr. Truman was 81 years old, and he described it as a “profound personal experience for me.”