What was the primary purpose of Medicaid when it was enacted in 1965?

The primary purpose of Medicaid when it was enacted in 1965 was indeed to provide health insurance for low-income individuals. Medicaid was designed as a program to assist those who could not afford healthcare, ensuring that vulnerable populations such as low-income families, children, pregnant women, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities would have access to necessary medical services.

This initiative was part of a broader effort to address poverty and improve health outcomes, acknowledging the gaps in healthcare access for economically disadvantaged groups. Medicaid works in conjunction with other programs, such as Medicare, which focuses on serving the elderly, thus solidifying its role specifically in supporting low-income individuals.

While mental health services and comprehensive healthcare access are integral aspects of modern Medicaid, they were not the primary motivations for its inception. The focus on ensuring health insurance coverage for low-income individuals remains the cornerstone of the program's objectives since its establishment.