Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar joined U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid by presenting a ceremonial card to a new Medicare recipient from Minnesota. When President Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law in 1966, about half of seniors had no health insurance. Fifty years later, nearly all American seniors are covered by Medicare or Medicaid.

“Fifty years ago today, President Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law to provide health care for seniors, children, people with disabilities, and rural populations,” said Klobuchar. “Medicare has been a great American success story that protects the health and financial well-being of millions of senior citizens, and I was honored that new Medicare recipient Barbara Ann Berlovitz could join us from Minneapolis to receive her ceremonial Medicare card.”

Barbara Ann Berlovitz is a drama teacher from Minneapolis who just turned 65 in May. She made the transition to Medicare from her previous health insurance coverage through MNsure and has already seen her doctor to take advantage of her free Welcome to Medicare preventive care visit.

Senator Klobuchar has long been a supporter of Medicare, and earlier this year helped pass a long-term, bipartisan solution for paying doctors who treat Medicare patients. That legislation gives health care providers stability and continues to move Medicare toward a system that rewards value and quality—not just volume.