Medicare & Medicaid Act (1965)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read historical signing statement and statute (SSA.gov)

2) Why It Was Done
The Act was passed to provide health insurance for two vulnerable groups:

• Medicare (Title XVIII): Seniors (65+) and certain disabled individuals.
• Medicaid (Title XIX): Low-income individuals and families.

It was part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society programs.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Before 1965, older and low-income Americans often had little or no access to affordable healthcare. Employer-based insurance and charity care dominated, leaving many uninsured.

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP, 1997)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (42 U.S.C. § 1397aa et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
CHIP was created to expand health insurance coverage for children in families with incomes too high for Medicaid eligibility but too low to afford private insurance.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Medicaid (1965) covered many low-income families, but left gaps for near-poor children. CHIP filled this gap as a joint federal–state program.