Healthcare & Social Policy Timeline

Healthcare & Social Policy – Timeline of Key Acts

Federal healthcare and social policy has developed over nearly a century to provide safety nets, regulate insurance, and expand access to care. This timeline highlights the most impactful laws still shaping U.S. healthcare and social policy.

Social Security Act (1935)

  • Created the Social Security system.
  • Established unemployment insurance, old-age benefits, and aid to dependent children.
  • Still the foundation of U.S. social insurance.

Medicare & Medicaid (1965, amendments to the Social Security Act)

  • Created Medicare for seniors (65+) and Medicaid for low-income individuals.
  • Codified at 42 U.S.C. §§ 1395 et seq.
  • Remain two of the largest federal programs today.

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP, 1997)

  • Expanded health coverage for children in low-income families not eligible for Medicaid.
  • Joint federal–state program.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA, 1996)

  • Guaranteed portability of health insurance between jobs.
  • Established health data privacy rules and security standards.
  • Codified at 42 U.S.C. §§ 1320d et seq.

Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA, 2008)

  • Required group health plans to provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as for medical/surgical benefits.
  • Strengthened by later amendments under the Affordable Care Act.

Affordable Care Act (ACA, 2010)

  • Expanded health insurance coverage through subsidies and Medicaid expansion.
  • Prohibited denial of coverage for preexisting conditions.
  • Established insurance marketplaces and mandated essential health benefits.

21st Century Cures Act (2016)

  • Increased funding for medical research.
  • Streamlined FDA approval processes.
  • Expanded access to mental health and opioid treatment.

CARES Act (2020)

  • COVID-19 emergency relief act.
  • Provided direct payments, expanded unemployment insurance, and allocated billions for hospitals and testing.

American Rescue Plan Act (2021)

  • Expanded ACA subsidies.
  • Extended unemployment benefits and child tax credits.
  • Provided significant funding for COVID-19 response and healthcare systems.

Why It Matters Today

These laws collectively:

  • Created the federal social safety net.
  • Defined the role of the government in healthcare access and funding.
  • Continue to shape debates over cost, access, and the balance of state vs. federal control.

Official Sources