Communist Party USA Celebrates Medicare’s 61st Anniversary With Call for Medicare for All

The Communist Party USA is commemorating Medicare’s 61st anniversary by rallying supporters to contact lawmakers in both chambers of Congress and demand passage of legislation establishing a national Medicare for All program.

In an August 5 call to action from its Rapid Response Team, the party encouraged supporters to call, write, or visit their U.S. senators and representative in support of S. 1506 and H.R. 3069. The two proposals were introduced in April 2025 by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Debbie Dingell of Michigan. They would establish a national Medicare-for-All insurance program providing comprehensive healthcare without premiums, copayments, or deductibles.

“Happy birthday to Medicare!” the party said. “For 61 years, Medicare/Medicaid has been a lifeline for seniors, disabled and low income individuals. Medicare for All would give comprehensive, high-quality healthcare based on patient need, not on profit, for everybody.”

Although the party tied its call to Medicare’s 61st anniversary, the anniversary of the program’s enactment technically fell several days earlier. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the legislation establishing Medicare and Medicaid on July 30, 1965, while Medicare benefits formally began the following July.

In the same rallying cry, the Communist Party also opposed several Trump administration healthcare policies, including Medicaid work requirements that would require certain recipients to complete at least 80 hours per month through “employment, education, work programs, or community service. The party also accused the administration of seeking to privatize Medicare through Medicare Advantage and called on lawmakers instead to improve and expand the existing programs while continuing to move toward universal coverage.

As of this article’s publication, neither Medicare for All bill has advanced beyond its initial committee referral or received a vote. H.R. 3069 remains before several House committees, while S. 1506 remains before the Senate Finance Committee.