July 1 Marks the 50th Anniversary of Medicare Coverage

On July 1 of this year, the Medicare program will mark the 50th anniversary of coverage for persons 65 and older. The Center for Medicare Advocacy is honoring this accomplishment by counting down to July 1st — the 50th anniversary of the effective date of the Medicare program. It will recount little known facts about the program as well as individual and systemic accomplishments and challenges. Examples:

• In 1966, 19 million people ages 65 or older were enrolled in Medicare – just one year after the program was enacted in 1965. Consider what an accomplishment this was, especially in a world with no internet or social media.
• In 1973, Medicare began covering people with disabilities – as a result, 2.2 million more people received coverage that year.

Read more at the Center for Medicare Advocacy.

David Wingate is an elder law attorney at the Elder Law Office of David Wingate, LLC. The elder law office services clients with powers of attorneys, living wills, Wills, Trusts, Medicaid and asset protection. The Elder Law office has locations in Frederick and Montgomery Counties, Maryland.