August 7th, 2015 by WCBC Radio
Medicare and Medicaid turned 50 years old last month, but even a half century later, there are those who debate its merits. After decades of political leaders grappling on the issue of health care, it was in 1965 that President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law. Maryland Senator Barbra Mikulski said that many people today take for granted what was a seminal political accomplishment. Medicare, a federally run program, provides health care for those over 65 through a payroll tax separate from the Social Security tax. Medicaid, a state and federally administered health program, provides health care for the poor. Both are government-run programs. The veteran democrat, serving her final term having decided to retire, bristles when she hears talk of privatizing or phasing out the programs…
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