(CNN) -- On this date, July 30, nearly a half-century ago, the United States achieved a major victory. Medicare, the nation's first national health insurance program, was born. As part of President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, Medicare extended health coverage to seniors who inevitably needed care. It's been a well-accepted success and highlights the benefits of improving health care access. But despite Monday's cautiously optimistic report on Medicare's solvency, a sustainable and comprehensive health care system requires covering everybody. Expanding Medicare for all is the fairest, most effective and straightforward way to ensure universal coverage in America. With Medicare, seniors have greater access to care. Yet most people deal with an overly complex system that fails to provide the same benefits our seniors receive. Even after the passage of Obamacare, unacceptable burdens remain. Consider the health coverage of women.
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Vijay Das: Nearly 50 years old, Medicare has been a success and has improved health care
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He says we should extend Medicare health coverage to assure quality care for all
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Das: Report optimistic on Medicare' solvency: It's efficient and just way for universal care
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Das: U.S. only major nation in industrialized world that doesn't guarantee right of health care
To be sure, @placeholder does offer greater protections and support for working women to obtain basic insurance.