What You Should Know
Medicare Advantage in Your State | About Us | What is a Medicare Advantage Health Plan? | Who are Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries? | History of Medicare Advantage
History of Medicare Advantage
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 gave Medicare beneficiaries the option of receiving their benefits through private health plans, a program called "Medicare+Choice" or "Part C." Upon passage of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, the program became known as Medicare Advantage, and prescription drug coverage was added.
| 1960 |
Social Security Amendments of 1960
Social Security is expanded to provide more Federal funding for medical payments, thus setting the stage for the Medicare program. |
| 1965 |
Social Security Amendments of 1965
President Lyndon Johnson signs the Medicare and Medicaid programs into law. |
| 1997 |
Balanced Budget Act of 1997
Medicare beneficiaries were given the option to receive their Medicare benefits through private health insurance plans, instead of through the Original Medicare plan (Parts A and B). These programs were known as "Medicare+Choice" or "Part C" plans. |
| 2003 |
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act
With the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003, the compensation and business practices for insurers that offered "Part C" plans changed, and the program became known as "Medicare Advantage" (MA). |
| 2010 |
Patient Protection and Affordable Coverage Act
The Congressional Budget Office estimates that more than $200 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage included in the PPACA will lead to a 35% drop in MA enrollment by 2019. Read more about the impact of MA cuts on seniors. |
For more information on the history of Medicare, please visit Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
