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The Social Security Act Of President Franklin D. Roosevelt

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The Social Security Act grew out of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Committee on Economic Security and was signed into law in August of 1935 (Martin & Weaver, 2005). The Act created several programs that provide income security to the old-age, unemployed, and families with children (Martin & Weaver, 2005). The original Act allowed for provisions to research health insurance, but the Medicare program would not exist until 30 years later (Martin & Weaver, 2005).
In the early 1930’s the United States was building its industrial base. During this time a large number of American workers became dependent on wage income. Due to the dependency of wages older American workers generally bore the blunt of economic downturns. In addition to, many individuals lost wages due to disabilities and death; also retirements were not adequately planned for (Martin & Weaver, 2005). Hence the Great Depression occurred and political interest grew in the realm of social insurance plans and services. Thus the Great Depression was the catalyst for the creation of the Social Security Act.
In 1965 Congress altered the Social Security Act and added the Medicare program (George Washington University, 2012). This program guarantees access to health insurance for all Americans aged 65 or older, younger people with specific disabilities, and individual with end stage renal disease (George Washington University, 2012). The Medicaid also program provides funding to states in order to provide medical

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