[WASHINGTON, DC] - Congressman Steve Cohen, co-founder of the Congressional State Medicaid Expansion Caucus, today celebrated the 50th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing Medicare and Medicaid, two of the most effective and efficient safety net programs in our nation's history, into law. Despite accusations from some at the time that it would lead to "socialized medicine," millions of Americans now rely on Medicare and Medicaid to stay out of poverty, including more than 92,000 Medicare beneficiaries and 195,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in Tennessee's Ninth District, though Tennessee's failure to expand Medicaid as the Affordable Care Act allows leaves almost 200,000 Tennesseans without coverage and costs the state $1.77 billion each year.

"Over the last 50 years, Medicare and Medicaid have become unparalleled successes and pillars of American life for millions," said Congressman Cohen. "These important safety net programs support more than 90,000 seniors and 195,000 low-income citizens in the Ninth District alone, providing them with peace of mind and financial security while improving beneficiaries quality--and length--of life. I hope that on this anniversary, opponents of expanding TennCare will take a moment to reflect on the success of Medicaid and reconsider their positions. Not only will Tennesseans die due to lack of health insurance if they fail to expand Medicaid, but those with health insurance will pay more to cover the tabs of those who are forced to use emergency rooms for care while our state's economy loses out on $1.77 billion in federal dollars and hospitals continue to close."

Medicare provides health insurance for people age 65 and older along with individuals with certain disabilities, while Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that provides health coverage for low-income individuals. Together, Medicare and Medicaid provide health care benefits to millions of the most vulnerable individuals in the nation: seniors, the poor, and the severely disabled. The two programs have helped to successfully reduce the poverty rate among older Americans from 28.5% in 1966 to 9% today and relieve the economic burdens of millions of low-income families. The Affordable Care Act builds upon that success by improving benefits, lowering costs, and curtailing waste, fraud, and abuse.