Which act established Medicare for the elderly and Medicaid for the poor?

• A. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
• B. Social Security Act
• C. Self-Determination Act
• D. Good Samaritan Law

Answer: (B)

Medicare and Medicaid were created as amendments to the Social Security Act in 1965. The Social Security Act, originally enacted in 1935, laid the groundwork for national social insurance programs, and the 1965 amendments added health coverage. Medicare provides federal health insurance primarily for people aged 65 and older (and certain younger people with disabilities), while Medicaid is a jointly funded, state-administered program that provides health coverage to individuals and families with low income. This distinction matters in nursing practice because it affects eligibility, what services are covered, and how care is paid for, shaping decisions about access to care and reimbursement.

Other acts mentioned serve different purposes: HIPAA governs privacy and security of health information and portability of health insurance; the Patient Self-Determination Act focuses on informing patients about their rights and advance directives; and Good Samaritan laws protect lay responders from liability in emergencies. None of these establish or fund Medicare or Medicaid.