Looking Back, Moving Forward: Honoring 60 Years of Medicare
By Mary Beth Donahue, President and CEO, Better Medicare Alliance
This week marks a milestone in American health care: the 60th anniversary of the Medicare program. On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed legislation that opened the door to guaranteed health coverage for millions of older Americans. In the decades since, I was proud to attend the 35th Anniversary of Medicare at the Department of Health and Human Services where I was an employee in 2000. Now, 25 years later, Medicare continues to be a source of security, coverage, and peace of mind for generations of seniors and people with disabilities.
As we reflect on this momentous occasion, we honor the vision of Medicare’s architects and the enduring promise of the program. At its core, Medicare has always been about ensuring that as Americans age, they can access the care they need with confidence and financial security.
Over the past six decades, Medicare has evolved in meaningful ways — empowering seniors with greater choice and enabling them to get the care that works best for their needs. One of the most significant innovations came with the creation of Medicare Advantage, which today serves more than 34 million beneficiaries — over half of all Medicare beneficiaries.
Medicare Advantage builds on the foundation of traditional Medicare while offering enhanced benefits, improved care coordination, and lower out-of-pocket costs. It reflects Medicare’s ability to modernize and deliver value, while supporting seniors in making informed decisions about their health coverage.
The results speak for themselves. According to a recent analysis from ATI Advisory, Medicare Advantage beneficiaries save an average of $3,486 per year compared to those in Fee-for-Service Medicare. These savings are meaningful for seniors on fixed incomes, particularly alongside additional benefits like vision, hearing, dental, and transportation services that are typically not available in traditional Medicare.
Just as important as cost savings are the health outcomes. A study by Berkeley Research Group found that Medicare Advantage enrollees receive more preventive services — including cancer and cardiovascular screenings — and experience fewer avoidable hospitalizations than those in Fee-For-Service. This is the result of a care model that emphasizes prevention, chronic care management, and whole-person health.
Seniors themselves are strong supporters of the program: 96% of Medicare Advantage enrollees report being satisfied with their coverage. Medicare works better for everyone when seniors can choose the coverage that best suits their health needs, lifestyle, and budget — and Medicare Advantage makes that possible.
At Better Medicare Alliance, we’re proud to work alongside health care stakeholders and seniors championing Medicare Advantage as an essential part of the Medicare program serving a majority of beneficiaries. As we mark 60 years of Medicare, we remain committed to ensuring the program continues to innovate, evolve, and deliver high-quality, affordable care for today’s seniors — and for generations to come.