When Was Medicare Established? 
People were first able to sign up for Medicare on July 1 , 1966 . President Johnson signed into law the Medicare Program on July 30 , 1965 . President Johnson enrolled former President Truman as the first person on Medicare at the bill-signing ceremony . Now there is original Medicare Part A & B plus people have the choice of a Medigap Plan -LRB- Medicare Supplement Plan -RRB- or a Medicare Advantage Plan . 