"Medicare has been the most successful insurance program in our nation's history, providing 47 million older Americans and people with disabilities with health coverage. This week we celebrate the 45th anniversary of its passage. As we commemorate this milestone, we remember that prior to enactment in 1965, half of America's seniors were uninsured. The recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act expands Medicare benefits like preventive care and prescription drug coverage and strengthens the Medicare Trust Fund to ensure its future."