Five Reasons You Should Celebrate Medicare and Medicaid Today

Today, Medicare and Medicaid turn 47. Speaking of birthdays, did you know Medicaid covers nearly half of all births in this country? In Oklahoma, for example, Medicaid covered a whopping 64 percent of births in 2009!

And that’s not the only reason why these programs are so important to women. Medicare and Medicaid, the nation’s health care programs for senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and low-income individuals and families, compose a critical piece of our country’s health insurance system. Already, nearly one in five women has no health insurance. Medicare and Medicare stem the tide by covering millions of women who would otherwise lack health insurance.

Here are another five reasons why women should celebrate Medicare and Medicaid:

1. Medicaid covers nearly 24 million women under age 65. To put this figure in perspective, Medicaid offers limited coverage to adults in most states– and women make up 59 percent of the adults enrolled in Medicaid.
2. Medicaid is the largest source of public funding for family planning services.
3. Medicaid saves lives. A new study suggests that in states where more low-income people have access to Medicaid, fewer people are dying.
4. Women make up 56 percent of those on Medicare. Because women tend to live longer, have lower incomes and fewer assets, and have more health care needs than men, Medicare helps women stay healthy and financially stable.
5. With all the myths out there about government-run health care, turns out that folks on Medicare are happier with their health coverage than those with private insurance.

I can personally attest to the critical role that Medicare has played in my family. Recently, my 87 year old grandmother had cataract surgery using her Medicare coverage and she says it’s like having new eyes. Though she doesn’t need her glasses anymore, she still prefers to wear them because “they make her look younger.” Medicare gives my family peace of mind that my grandmother has guaranteed health coverage.

It’s hard to imagine that two generations ago, there was no guaranteed health care coverage for the elderly, the poor, and people with disabilities. 

As a recent graduate of the LBJ School, I give a shout-out to its namesake, President Johnson, who signed Medicare and Medicaid into law in 1965. I am grateful that a time when the most vulnerable among us had no health coverage is a thing of history.

So happy 47th birthday Medicare and Medicaid… and many more!