Healthcare & Social Policy Timeline
Social Security Act (1935)
- Created the Social Security system. - Established unemployment insurance, old-age benefits, and aid to dependent children. - Still the foundation of U.S. social insurance. ---
Medicare & Medicaid (1965, amendments to the Social Security Act)
- Created Medicare for seniors (65+) and Medicaid for low-income individuals. - Codified at 42 U.S.C. §§ 1395 et seq. - Remain two of the largest federal programs today. ---
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP, 1997)
- Expanded health coverage for children in low-income families not eligible for Medicaid. - Joint federal–state program. ---
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA, 1996)
- Guaranteed portability of health insurance between jobs. - Established health data privacy rules and security standards. - Codified at 42 U.S.C. §§ 1320d et seq. ---
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA, 2008)
- Required group health plans to provide equal coverage for mental health and substance use disorders as for medical/surgical benefits. - Strengthened by later amendments under the Affordable Care Act. ---
Affordable Care Act (ACA, 2010)
- Expanded health insurance coverage through subsidies and Medicaid expansion. - Prohibited denial of coverage for preexisting conditions. - Established insurance marketplaces and mandated essential health benefits. ---
21st Century Cures Act (2016)
- Increased funding for medical research. - Streamlined FDA approval processes. - Expanded access to mental health and opioid treatment. ---
CARES Act (2020)
- COVID-19 emergency relief act. - Provided direct payments, expanded unemployment insurance, and allocated billions for hospitals and testing. ---
American Rescue Plan Act (2021)
- Expanded ACA subsidies. - Extended unemployment benefits and child tax credits. - Provided significant funding for COVID-19 response and healthcare systems. ---
Why It Matters Today
These laws collectively: - Created the federal social safety net. - Defined the role of the government in healthcare access and funding. - Continue to shape debates over cost, access, and the balance of state vs. federal control. ---
Official Sources
- [Social Security Administration – Historical Laws](https://www.ssa.gov/history/laws.html) - [U.S. Code – Title 42 (Public Health and Welfare)](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title42&edition=prelim) - [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – Laws & Regulations](https://www.