These two significant pieces of legislation represent landmark expansions of federal social welfare programs in the United States, enacted during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration’s “Great Society.” One provides health insurance primarily for individuals aged 65 and older, regardless of income or medical history. The other offers healthcare coverage to certain low-income individuals and families.
Their importance stems from their attempt to address critical gaps in access to healthcare for vulnerable populations. One provided near-universal health insurance for the elderly, dramatically reducing out-of-pocket medical expenses for this age group. The other provided states with matching funds to offer health coverage to the poor, expanding access to medical services for millions who previously lacked it. These programs fundamentally altered the role of the federal government in healthcare and continue to be debated and reformed to this day.
