Health Care History in the USA
Health Care Reform Is New?
As someone who is very interested in the advancement of health care reform as consumers, taxpayers and private health insurance services, and as a professional, I have tried to follow the current health reform debate. I get a little frustrated with the lack of progress on both sides of the aisle, and also by some knee jerk reactions by politicians and their groupies .. You would think that the current government, and political opponents, has just discovered the health reform or shouting angry voice against it.
I decided to do my best to describe some of the highlights of the health reform efforts, failures, and progress in the last 100 years or more. I am not a professional historian, in any way, so some may feel as though I left important things or taking them out of context. I am trying to balance, but taking all the blame if I ignore something that you feel is important.
Teddy Roosevelt in the 1910s
Teddy Roosevelt ran on a platform that is very progressive in the early part of last century. 1912 campaign promise to include protections for worker safety at work of a woman’s right to choose, and national health care programs. He was president of the United States, by the way, 1901-1909. But he lost his 1912 election to Woodrow Wilson. It is interesting to note that Roosevelt was a Republican. Wilson Democrat. Never assume that American political parties set in stone.
Early Model Current Health Insurance and Cries Socialism
In 1929, Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas come with prepaid plans for a large area that the teachers’ union. It is considered one of the early models of health insurance. Now here’s the irony. A few years later, a doctor of Oklahoma farmers to form associations with pre-paid plan. Members of the Association shall pay into the plan, and then get covered services. American Medical Association called the plan socialism these doctors!
Nevertheless, pre-paid hospital and physician plans to continue to grow in popularity across the United States. However, they are usually left out of unemployment and the elderly.
New Deal in 1930
Other Roosevelt, FDR, also wants to implement national health reform. He wanted to include it as part of the social security legislation. That did not work, but even Truman wanted to establish a national fund. for health care. He thinks everyone can pay, like we do for social security, and could then ensure that the needs of the most severe public health are met. All of this left over from the New Deal, and the AMA continues to criticize as socialism.
Post-World War II
At the end of the second world war, it became much clearer that there is a large gap between health care costs and what mos people can afford. Congress does not pass the bill to build more hospitals. They were also asked hospitals to provide charity care. They have a clause to prohibit discrimination based on race, religion, etc. But they do not allow separate but equal treatment, which is not always changed to provide equal treatment for everyone.
In 1950, the union began to add health benefits to collective bargaining agreements them. This really forms the basis for group health insurance and more people enjoy working today. Thus, group health plans become more popular, and in 1954, Congress decided to make a tax-free profits.
In the 1960s
JFK fought for national health care, but once again he was met with cries of socialism. But Medicare and Medicaid, are now regarded as American institutions, although this does not appear. U.S. national Medicare health plan for seniors and the disabled. Medicaid is a national health plan for the very poor.
Despite the fact that millions of Americans have health insurance for the first time, in 1960, health care spending and costs began to rise.
In the 1970s – Nixon and Carter
President Nixon, a Republican, worked for healthcare reform. He proposed a bill that would require employers to provide health insurance coverage is minimal. Under his rule, money was allocated for the development of HMOs and managed care to control costs.
Carter ran for president, and national health care is a big part of the campaign platform. Although he won, severe recession into these plans on hold.
1980 and COBRA
COBRA is a national law that requires certain employers to extend health benefits to an employee group stopped for several months.
1990 and the Clinton
Perhaps the best-known previous effort to dramatically reform health care under President Clinton. Hillary Clinton, then first lady, spear headed this job. You probably would not be surprised to learn that political criticism in the pot to call it socialism. Experts argue that the plan failed because of partisan politics on both sides. Drug and insurance companies, and the American Medical Association (AMA) also spent a lot of time and money to get a Health Security Act was defeated.
CHIPS – I can not leave in 1990 without mentioning CHIPS. It is a state and federal child health insurance program that covers millions of children from low-and moderate-income families.
21st Century Health Reform
I have to credit George Bush, a Republican, by passing the Medicare Prescription plan in 2003. It is also known as Medicare Part D, and help fund a prescription insurance for Medicare beneficiaries.
Obama ran on a platform that included health care reform. It seems like it is as difficult to pass such a long time now Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, Truman, and Bill Clinton. Politicians are still making deals behind closed doors, and of course, people still yell socialism.
But some things have changed. AMA now supports healthcare reform. Many businesses are concerned about the spiking cost of covering employees, and representatives have admitted they want to see some reform that will help them. Even insurance companies have said they will work together.
Hopefully, we can see some progress. I do not know what will (or should) happen next.
What Next?