On July 30, Medicare will celebrate 50 years since it was signed into law. In those 50 years, Medicare has provided guaranteed health benefits to millions of older adults and people with disabilities. Today, 54 million Americans and their families rely on Medicare for basic health and economic security.
“This landmark anniversary represents an important opportunity to celebrate the undeniable successes of the Medicare program,” said Joe Baker, president of the Medicare Rights Center (Medicare Rights). “It is also an excellent chance to look forward and explore how policymakers can make the Medicare program even better over the next 50 years.”
Medicare Rights is counting down to this historic anniversary by making 50 wishes for Medicare’s future. From June 11 until July 30, one wish will be posted each day on Medicare Rights’ website and on Facebook and Twitter. The wishes include ideas big and small-from adding new benefits to clarifying beneficiary notices.
Baker concluded, “Thinking ahead to the next 50 years, it is critically important for lawmakers to advance global changes to modernize benefits in both Original Medicare and private Medicare health plans. But it is equally important for policymakers to press forward on seemingly small fixes to improve how Medicare beneficiaries navigate their coverage day-to-day.”
Those who want to participate may track each day’s wish at www.medicarerights.org/50wishes and add their own wishes on Facebook and Twitter using #50MedicareWishes.
This article was adapted from information provided by Medicare Rights.