Washington, D.C. –Congressman Charles Rangel commemorated the 46th anniversary of the enactment of the Medicare Program. The momentous legislation was signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on July 30, 1965. 

“Creating Medicare was one of the proudest achievements of the Democratic Party,” Rangel said. “Medicare has transformed what it means to be old in our great nation. Seniors are not only living longer, but also independently with dignity.”

Today, Medicare provides comprehensive health care coverage for 47 million Americans, including 39 million seniors and 8 million people under 65 with disabilities.  Medicare is also enormously popular with seniors and people with disabilities – with Medicare beneficiaries are more satisfied with their coverage than Americans with privatized insurance.  Medicare provides a guaranteed set of benefits and affordable premiums.

“Too many people have forgotten what life was like in the United States before Medicare existed,” Rangel stated.  In 1964, only 51 percent of Americans over 65 had health care coverage – whereas today, because of Medicare, coverage is virtually universal.  In addition, the creation of Medicare has played a role in the poverty rate among seniors dropping dramatically.  Nearly 30 percent of seniors lived below the poverty line in 1964 – and today that number has dropped to 7.5 percent.  Furthermore, Medicare has contributed to the life expectancy of Americans increasing significantly.

Medicare recipients in Congressman Rangel's Manhattan congressional district have received the support of city organizations such as the Medicare Rights Center located at Eighth Avenue. Since 1989, they have assisted New York City residents with handling the system and getting the benefits they deserve. The Federal Government also has information available for the nation's Medicare recipients at Medicare.gov. 

Republicans argue that the Medicare program cannot be maintained and must be completely replaced. Unfortunately, in April, House Republicans passed a budget that would end Medicare and replace it with a voucher based system which will place Americans under 55 at the mercy of private insurance companies. This will result with reduced benefits and raised medical costs for seniors. 

“I reject the Republican view that the program must be scrapped and replaced with a new system that shifts costs to seniors,” Rangel said.  “Over the last 46 years, Democrats have fought vigorously to protect and strengthen Medicare.  We have worked to extend Medicare’s sustainability, most recently in the Affordable Care Act, and we will continue to do so.  Medicare is the promise we made to our seniors and we will ensure it will be available for future generations.”