Healthcare History Of The United States

By the 1960s, the formation of unions help to standardized employer health benefits and the access to insurance was prevalent for workers. This system seemed to be well established as the employers, private health insurance carries, physicians and hospitals would recycle health cost amongst each other. However, there were many underlying problems with this tightly organized system. Self employed individuals, small companies, the poor, and the unemployed had no organized access to health insurance. Also, at this time the majority of elderly retirees lost their health insurance in old age when they needed it most. These underserved populations began to seek care in emergency facilities driving the cost of urgent care back on the hospital and

of the patient with controlling the costs of care, the issue of the uninsured began to grow. The concept of some sort of governmentally funded universal health care for all began over a century ago, however, never successfully implemented. From a historical viewpoint, individuals obtained health insurance by purchasing their own policy, as a benefit of employment, or through governmentally funded programs that required certain eligibility criteria be met in order to be eligible. If a person did not qualify for one of these types of health insurance, they generally were left without health insurance coverage.

rehend the PPACA, one must understand the history of the United States’ health care system. The most successful and known reform would be the passage of Medicare and Medicaid. President Johnson’s main objective with his program was to provide health insurance to those over 65 years old, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to receive coverage due to retirement or being financially unfit to purchase health insurance. It has since been expanded to cover those with disabilities, and lower income families (“Overview,” 2015). Brady (2015) examines President Clinton’s attempt to massively overhaul health care in the United States. His plan, the Health Security Act (HSA), required employers to offer health insurance to their employees, and mandated that every US citizen purchase health insurance. This plan would have most likely expand health insurance to many more Americans; however, many feared the large tax increases, restricted options for patients, and with the lack of general support for the bill, it failed in Congress and was never implemented (p. 628). President Clinton’s failed attempt at health care reform opened up the door to future reforms, and it even shared multiple similarities to the PPACA. Smith (2015) updates the history of the health care system in America stating that “In the mid-2000s, America’s uninsured population swelled to nearly 47 million, representing about 16 percent of the population” and how “16 million Americans […] were underinsured” (p. 2). People

A series of events has recently occurred to cause the passage of PPACA. Economics are explicitly linked to health care. In the United States, health care coverage is provided primarily through an employer-based system. This system began in the depression era when pay was federally frozen. Companies, in an attempt to lure scarce workers, used benefits packages including health care as bait. Described as a “uniquely American” “private social security” health care system, the employer-sponsored system is the “cornerstone” of United States health care system (Blumenthal, 2006). This system has left many un- or under-insured. Blumenthal states (2006), “The United States’ dependence on employer-sponsored insurance means that the protection of its citizens against the costs of illness depends directly on the ability of private businesses to manage and absorb health care expenses that have defied all efforts to contain them.” Recently, economic downturn and the need to reduce expenses to better compete on the global market has caused many companies to both reduce their insurance benefits package and their work force causing many to lose their health care coverage. The employer-based system merged with the economic downturn, unaffordable health care costs for businesses, and

Here are ten moments in health care history that would bring about major health insurance reforms and carry us from the 20th century to today. In 1915: The American Association of Labor

Since the 21 century there has been nearly 50 million uninsured Americans and as of today the number continues to increase. This has made medical care to projectile. Change has been needed and incompletely answered these last past few years. It a while before this country to get employer mandate of the affordable care act (ACA). Social security was developed in the 1930's with the anticipation of universal healthcare. Then in the 1940's companies started to offer health care packages to their employees as an incentive to get them to work for their company. During the 1950 strong labor unions recuperated and started to accommodate an amplification of health care of health care coverage. Then in the 1990's Clinton administration started to try

Prior to The ACA, the United States was primarily composed of a private health care system. This meant that employers, families or individuals would buy health insurance through private insurance companies. There were also Medicare and Medicaid government insurance programs for qualifying individuals. (Bradey, 2016) Typically the Medicare program is reserved for those individuals who have reached retirement age and Medicaid is for the poor. There are exceptions to each of the programs that this paper will not explore.

What role does early American history have to play in the quest for Universal Health Coverage in the U.S. during the 20th century?

Health insurance is essential in order to assist in paying for hospital and clinic visits. Without health insurance cost would be astronomical and people would not be able to afford health care. Blue Cross/ Blue Shield and Health Maintenance Organization, were some of the many insurance companies widely used before the Affordable Care Act. Although health insurances existed, many individuals and families were not able to afford them due to the increase in the cost of health care. New research over the years has enabled the creation of new medicine and technology in our practice. This leads to services being more expensive for individuals, which raises the price of insurance.

Being an American guarantees the right and responsibility of having Health Insurance. Whether you have Health Insurance coverage through your job, spouse, serving in the military, it is very critical in this day in age, a person to have some kind of coverage. There are many types of Insurance you may receive and different types of organizations, such as a Preferred Plan Organization, or Health Maintenance Organization. They type of Insurance you receive is your decision as well. The history of Health Insurance beings with its revolution in the late 1920’s through the 1930’s. The beginning of employer-sponsored health plans began as a result of World War II. With the growing demand increasing into the 1950’s, other insurance agencies

Healthcare in itself in the United States is a budding concept. The first ever insurance plans would pop up during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865. In 1929, there would be a formation of the first health plan for a group of people. This would take place by a group of teachers in Dallas, Texas, they would be contracted with Baylor Hospital to provide rooms, board, and medical services this would be in exchange for a monthly fee that would be charged by the hospital. There would be several large life insurance companies that would decide to enter the field of healthcare starting from the 1930 's to 1940 's as health insurance would grow in its popularity ("The History of Health Insurance," 2007).

Employer-based health insurance has been present in the United States for many years, however with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – future considerations must be deliberated. In the early years, during World War II, salaries were halted by the National War Labor Board. In order to entice workers and bypass the salary controls, companies would use employer-based health insurance. It was a positive situation for both, employee and employer because employer-based health insurance premiums paid by the employer was tax exempt (EBRI, 2015) and employees had the security of access to healthcare. Employers have the control and make the decision on which healthcare insurance plans their employees would have to choose from. However, the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) allows for many changes, including the ability for employees to have more freedom of choice. An analysis of employer-based health insurance and current trends reveals that the implementation of the PPACA will affect the employer-based health insurance existence, various advantages and disadvantages to group insurance, including adverse selection, moral hazard and uncertainty.

The Blue Cross plans proved popular and hospitals began to unite together to offer joint regional plans. These plans were presented mostly to professional groups, or clubs, rather than the general public. By 1938, almost three million Americans were enrolled in Blue Cross plans. This growing market began to attract profit-making insurers.

Throughout the first part of the 20th century there was little effort to promote health insurance, but in the second half of the 20th century healthcare became a major concern. Once, Medicare and Medicaid were introduced in 1965 the government along with its citizens took a major step in the progression of healthcare. From then, there was a shift in the privatization of healthcare. This forced many of the lower class to be without health insurance. In 1993, President Clinton with the best of in intentions failed at establishing a universal healthcare system in the United States. Finally in 2006, Massachusetts passed a law that would provide healthcare coverage for all of its state residents. In 2010 the

Employee Healthcare benefits organizations have been around more than 100 years in the United States. In the 1870s they began to give company doctors to employees in the work industries. During World War II not as many people had health insurance, most systems only covered ancillary services, hospital room, and board. Throughout World War II more people started to have employment -based health insurance benefits for many reasons. . When the salary amount was gone by the National War Labor Board and there wasn’t many people working; Employers made ways to beat the wage authority by giving people health insurance.