History of Medicare

For more than 50 years, the Medicare and Medicaid programs have protected the health and well-being of millions of American families, saving lives, and improving the economic security of our nation.

Though Medicare and Medicaid started as basic insurance programs for Americans who didn’t have health insurance, they both changed over the years to provide more and more Americans with access to the quality and affordable health care they need.

On the following page, you’ll view an interactive timeline detailing the history of the Medicare Program.