Lewis and Clark College to Hold Medicare Workshop

On November 19, 1945, seven months into his presidency, Truman sent a message to Congress, calling for creation of a national health insurance fund, open to all Americans.The plan Truman envisioned would provide health coverage to individuals, paying for such typical expenses as doctor visits, hospital visits, laboratory services, dental care and nursing services. Although Truman fought to get a bill passed during his term, he was unsuccessful. It was another 20 years before some form of national health insurance, Medicare for Americans 65 and older, rather than earlier proposals to cover qualifying Americans of all ages would become a reality.

On July 30, 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson made Medicare law by signing H.R. 6675 in Independence, Missouri. Former President Truman was issued the very first Medicare card during the ceremony. In 1965, the budget for Medicare was around $10 billion and 19 million individuals signed up for Medicare during its first year.

In 1966, Medicare’s coverage took effect, as Americans age 65 and older were enrolled in Part A and millions of other seniors signed up for Part B.

In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon signed into the law the first major change to Medicare. The legislation expanded coverage to include individuals under the age of 65 with long-term disabilities and individuals with end-stage renal disease.

When Congress passed the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1980, it expanded home health services. The bill also brought Medigap or Medicare supplement insurance under federal oversight.

Medicare continues providing healthcare coverage to older Americans and those with disabilities. By 2015, there were 55.5 million people receiving health coverage through a Medicare program, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Medicare and supplemental insurance plans will be demystified during an upcoming CCL offering July 11 and 18 from 6-8:30 p.m. on L&C’s Godfrey Campus.

“For a program with only four parts, Medicare can be very confusing,” Instructor Jon Burgmann said. “This class is designed for people already on Medicare, those approaching Medicare, or caregivers of someone already on Medicare. You will learn how Medicare is structured including how, when, and why to enroll, what your options are and what happens next. Bring your questions and you will leave knowing more about Medicare than anyone else you know.”

The two sessions will cover parts A, B, C and D of Medicare explaining how Medicare operates and where the recipients fit into the equation. The biggest gaps in Medicare and strategies to protect oneself will also be covered. The course fee $30 includes a helpful book for participants.

“Our goal with this workshop is to help people make educated decisions about their futures,” said CCL Assistant Director Katie Haas. “Understanding the options and matching those to individual’s needs is key. Jon’s presentation coupled with the helpful reference guide participants will take home will go a long way in making an informed decision.”

The registration deadline is July 5. To register, visit www.lc.edu/CCL or call Haas at (618) 468-5701.