Medicare marks 46th year; Hochul praises achievement and urges further improvement

Continues to stand against efforts to privatize Medicare program

Press release

Rep. Kathy Hochul, on Monday, is celebrating the 46th anniversary of Medicare implementation and urges for further reform to protect seniors.

"Over the last 46 years, Medicare has transformed the way people get the care they need," Hochul said. "With close to half a million Medicare beneficiaries in Western New York, Medicare has provided the security our seniors deserve in their health care. But despite delivering low-cost, high-quality health care for nearly 50 years, Medicare is under attack. Many in Washington are willing to force seniors to pay thousands more for their health care, and use that money to give tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires. As I have in the past, I will continue to fight to preserve Medicare while we seek out ways to eliminate fraud and abuse, and work to lower costs."

Hochul has consistently voted against proposals that end Medicare as we know it, while giving tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires. She advocates for strengthening Medicare by improving efficiency and lowering costs through programs such as tele-health and efforts that eliminate fraud and abuse.

President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare into law on July 30, 1965, and it was first implemented on July 1, 1966. Today, Medicare provides comprehensive health care coverage to 47 million Americans, including 39 million seniors and 8 million people under 65 with disabilities. Medicare provides a guaranteed set of benefits, at affordable premiums.