Medicaid means the world to me. Once I hit 65 and could go on Medicare, it was a huge relief. I'm just really thankful for the health insurance. I'm getting emotional. President and Mrs. Johnson and Vice President Humphrey arrive for ceremonies that will make the Medicare bill a part of Social Security coverage.
I remember in 1965 when the bill was signed for Medicare. July 30th. 1965, my first year in Congress, we were able to pass both Medicare and Medicaid.
Since LBJ signed that law 50 years ago, we've been able to work on and improve and make sure that all of those folks have care. Since I was 14, I've been working and drawing a paycheck and contributing. I was self-employed. I had to pay for any insurance. It was very, very expensive.
And now, I've been on Medicare for six years, and it just adds a lot of peace of mind. When my mom got covered, I felt like it would take a big burden off of her financially. Twelve weeks ago, I wrote...
ruptured a tendon in my foot and found out that I needed surgery. Medicare has given me the opportunity to get everything I need to make a full recovery. I am extremely excited about our gift.
getting healthy again without having to take on additional financial burdens. There are actually very few programs that have changed the nation this much and changed the lives of so many as Medicare and Medicaid. I'm a working mom. I'm a home healthy and I go to seniors homes that's either sick and bound, can't get around. If they need to get washed, I have them get washed.
I help prepare their meals, make sure they take their meds. In my job, it was no way for me to afford the health care. Like if I'd gotten sick, you know, then it would be $40 to go to the doctor. So either I had to not pay a bill, which was either my mortgage or utility bill, or I had to kind of diagnose myself. I heard from a navigator that Medicaid had expanded.
We did the application online. I found out that I was covered. That was a great day.
When I first got my insurance card, I went to the doctors and I was only going to go get a physical. So to come to find out that I have big fibroid tumors, that I have to get a hysterectomy for, and I also have precancerous cells. Since I have coverage, I can get it taken care of and be healthy.
Medicaid and Medicare are programs that provide incredible health security, but they also provide very important financial security. There's no question that for the last 50 years, Medicare and Medicaid have been keeping us healthy. I'm sorry Medicare and Medicaid.