There were limited federal programs prior to 1965, notably the Kerr-Mills legislation (P.L. 86-778), which provided federal funding to states to cover medical costs for the indigent elderly. Kerr-Mills initially had been envisioned as serving 10 million people, but by 1965 -- when it was effectively supplanted by Medicare and Medicaid -- it only covered 264,687 Americans. So its impact was not that great.
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid are health insurance programs sponsored by the federal government that cover medical expenses for elderly, disabled, and low-income Americans. Both programs took effect in 1965 and are administered by the Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA) which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. The U.S. Government provides health care coverage to a variety of groups--including federal employees, military personnel, veterans, and Native Americans--but the Medicare and Medicaid programs account for the largest proportion of the federal government's health care expenditures.
Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid are health insurance programs sponsored by the federal government that cover medical expenses for elderly, disabled, and low-income Americans. Both programs took effect in 1965 and are administered by the Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA) which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. The U.S. Government provides health care coverage to a variety of groups--including federal employees, military personnel, veterans, and Native Americans--but the Medicare and Medicaid programs account for the largest proportion of the federal government's health care expenditures.