The Goals of Medicare and Medicaid

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 10 views

The Creation of Medicare and Medicaid: A Key Component of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society Programs

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson introduced two landmark programs as part of his Great Society initiative: Medicare and Medicaid. These programs aimed to provide healthcare coverage to millions of Americans who were previously uninsured or underinsured. But why were Medicare and Medicaid created, and what were their primary objectives? In this article, we will delve into the history and purpose behind these two programs, and explore the reasons behind their creation.

In the early 1960s, the United States was facing a significant healthcare crisis. Many Americans lacked access to affordable healthcare, and those who did have coverage often found themselves with inadequate or unaffordable policies. The elderly, in particular, were vulnerable to financial ruin due to medical expenses. This was largely due to the fact that private health insurance companies were not designed to cover the needs of the elderly, who often required more frequent and costly medical care.

Medicare: A Program for the Elderly

Medicare was created to address the healthcare needs of the elderly. The program was designed to provide coverage for hospital stays, doctor visits, and other medical expenses for individuals aged 65 and older. Medicare was also intended to help reduce the financial burden on the elderly, who often found themselves struggling to pay for medical care.

Medicaid: A Program for Low-Income Families

Medicaid, on the other hand, was created to provide healthcare coverage to low-income families. The program was designed to help families who were struggling to make ends meet, and who often found themselves without access to affordable healthcare. Medicaid was also intended to help reduce the financial burden on these families, who often found themselves facing significant medical expenses.

The Goals of Medicare and Medicaid

So, what were the primary goals of Medicare and Medicaid? The main objectives of these programs were to:

Provide access to healthcare: Medicare and Medicaid were designed to provide access to healthcare for millions of Americans who were previously uninsured or underinsured.
Reduce healthcare costs: By providing coverage for hospital stays, doctor visits, and other medical expenses, Medicare and Medicaid aimed to reduce the financial burden on individuals and families.
Improve health outcomes: By providing access to healthcare, Medicare and Medicaid aimed to improve health outcomes for millions of Americans.

The Impact of Medicare and Medicaid

The impact of Medicare and Medicaid has been significant. Since their creation, these programs have provided coverage to millions of Americans, and have helped to reduce healthcare costs and improve health outcomes. In fact, studies have shown that Medicare and Medicaid have been instrumental in reducing the number of uninsured Americans, and have helped to improve health outcomes for low-income families.

In conclusion, Medicare and Medicaid were created as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson's Great Society programs in 1965. These programs were designed to provide access to healthcare for millions of Americans who were previously uninsured or underinsured. The primary goals of Medicare and Medicaid were to provide access to healthcare, reduce healthcare costs, and improve health outcomes. The impact of these programs has been significant, and they continue to play a vital role in the US healthcare system today.

What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?
- Medicare is a program for the elderly, while Medicaid is a program for low-income families.
What are the primary goals of Medicare and Medicaid?
- The primary goals of Medicare and Medicaid are to provide access to healthcare, reduce healthcare costs, and improve health outcomes.
How have Medicare and Medicaid impacted the US healthcare system?
- Medicare and Medicaid have helped to reduce the number of uninsured Americans, and have improved health outcomes for low-income families.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2022). Medicare and Medicaid: A Brief History.
National Academy of Social Insurance. (2022). Medicare and Medicaid: A Review of the Literature.
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2022). Medicaid and the Uninsured: A Primer.
Frequently Asked Questions: Medicare and Medicaid =====================================================

Q: What is the difference between Medicare and Medicaid?

A: Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant). Medicaid, on the other hand, is a joint federal-state program that provides health coverage to eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities.

Q: What are the primary goals of Medicare and Medicaid?

A: The primary goals of Medicare are to provide health insurance coverage to people 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease. The primary goals of Medicaid are to provide health coverage to eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities.

Q: How do I qualify for Medicare?

A: To qualify for Medicare, you must be 65 or older, have a disability, or have End-Stage Renal Disease. You can also qualify if you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or if you have been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease.

Q: How do I qualify for Medicaid?

A: To qualify for Medicaid, you must meet certain income and resource requirements. These requirements vary by state, but generally, you must have a low income and few resources. You can also qualify if you are pregnant, have a disability, or are a child.

Q: What services are covered by Medicare?

A: Medicare covers a wide range of services, including:

Hospital stays
Doctor visits
Lab tests and X-rays
Prescription medications
Home health care
Hospice care

Q: What services are covered by Medicaid?

A: Medicaid covers a wide range of services, including:

Doctor visits
Hospital stays
Lab tests and X-rays
Prescription medications
Dental care
Vision care

Q: How do I enroll in Medicare or Medicaid?

A: To enroll in Medicare, you can:

Visit the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov
Call the Medicare hotline at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
Visit your local Social Security office

To enroll in Medicaid, you can:

Visit the Medicaid website at www.medicaid.gov
Call the Medicaid hotline at 1-877-267-2323
Visit your local Medicaid office

Q: What are the benefits of Medicare and Medicaid?

A: The benefits of Medicare include:

Access to a wide range of health services
Protection from high medical bills
Improved health outcomes
Increased peace of mind

The benefits of Medicaid include:

Access to a wide range of health services
Protection from high medical bills
Improved health outcomes
Increased peace of mind

Q: What are the drawbacks of Medicare and Medicaid?

A: The drawbacks of Medicare include:

High premiums
Limited coverage for certain services
Complex enrollment process
Limited provider network

The drawbacks of Medicaid include:

Limited coverage for certain services
Complex enrollment process
Limited provider network
Stigma associated with receiving government assistance

Q: How do I appeal a Medicare or Medicaid decision?

A: To appeal a Medicare decision, you can:

File a complaint with the Medicare Appeals Council
File a lawsuit in federal court
Contact your local Medicare office

To appeal a Medicaid decision, you can:

File a complaint with the Medicaid Appeals Council
File a lawsuit in state court
Contact your local Medicaid office

Q: What are the resources available to help me with Medicare and Medicaid?

A: There are many resources available to help you with Medicare and Medicaid, including:

The Medicare website at www.medicare.gov
The Medicaid website at www.medicaid.gov
The Medicare hotline at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
The Medicaid hotline at 1-877-267-2323
Your local Medicare or Medicaid office
A Medicare or Medicaid counselor
A social worker or case manager

In conclusion, Medicare and Medicaid are two important programs that provide health coverage to millions of Americans. Understanding the differences between these programs, as well as the benefits and drawbacks of each, can help you make informed decisions about your health care. If you have any questions or concerns about Medicare or Medicaid, don't hesitate to reach out to a trusted resource for help.