Take a Peek at the Glorious Past of Health Care in the United States

The history of health care insurance and health care is a novel idea in the US. It was only during the civil war that the first health care plans saw the light of the day but they covered accidents related to travel by train or boat. These plans inspired other health care plans covering more medical expenses like illness and hospital benefits. The first known history of health care plan dates back to 1847 at Boston.

A more modern type of health care came in 1929 when a group of teachers came to Baylor Hospital in Dallas, Texas. They volunteered to pay a monthly fee in return for residence there and medical care. Soon after this happening, life insurance companies mushroomed to offer health care insurance along with their life policies.

It is no surprise to find the name of BlueCross and Blue Shield while searching the history of health care in this country. Blue cross came to an agreement with health care workers and facilities to offer health care at a discount. Blue cross will pay a larger portion of the bill in return. This was attractive to the health care industry because they would get the money reasonably quickly and their clientele will increase.

The Need for Health Care

A few people however could ill afford the costs f health care and were also unable to work to take advantage of health care benefit. Senior citizens and disabled person could not pay for the health care due to rising costs. According to the history of health care the government came up with a plan to cover all retired citizens over the age of 65. The Medicare programme came in to effect with funds collected from the wages of employed workers. You would pay your premium while you are young but the benefit would accrue only after retirement.

The history of health care points out to where the government had to offer health care insurance to the disabled and those below the poverty line. Medicare now covers a disabled person though he is below 65 years. There is Medic aid for people who cannot afford health care or health care insurance. There are fears that this system may fail and so there is urgent need for reform in the field of health care. The United States should reexamine their current health care issues.