The Medicaid Program

8 Pages 1919 Words

ldren program, which has been replaced in 1996 with a new block grant program

for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. (The Act also provided Federal grants to States

for public health services and services of vocational rehabilitation. Provisions for these grants

were later removed from the Social Security Act and incorporated into other legislation.)

The Old-Age Insurance program was not actually in full operation before significant changes

were adopted.

In 1948, the last of the States adopted a workers’ compensation program. The laws

relating to work-connected accidents gradually improved the provisions for medical benefits and

rehabilitation extension services. During the 1940’s, four States adopted legislation providing

weekly cash sickness benefits to workers who are temporarily disabled because of

non-occupational illness or injury. For Federal civilian employees, programs were enacted

providing group life insurance in 1954 and health insurance benefits in 1959. Since

then, an increasing number of State and local government jurisdictions initiated retirement

programs for their employees.







As a result of World War II and the Korean conflict, special veterans’ legislation was

enacted, with primary emphasis on assisting ex-service-persons to adjust from military to civilian

life. Not only were the older compensation and pension benefits available to World War I

veterans carried forward, but veterans were provided vocational rehabilitation, unemployment

allowances, educational and training benefits, and job placement services.

One of the most important pieces of social legislation was the establishment of the

Medicare program under the Social Security Amendments of 1965.

The Medicare and Medicaid programs were signed into law on July 30th , 1965 by

President Lyndon B. Johnson. The program provided for the medical needs of persons ag...