The Acquired podcast went over this history very briefly in their Epic episode and it’s so crazy how close we were to having universal healthcare.
Tl;dl:
during WW2, wage controls were in place due to a large demand of workers but very few people available due to being in the war
unions and companies alike were looking for ways to make their positions and companies more attractive.
government permitted benefits to augment salaries. Some companies started offering health insurance.
back then going to the doctor was NOT the bankrupt causing thing that is today and was considered a fringe benefit
larger companies were able to offer better incentives due to healthcare benefits
add a few years of corruption and “market forces” and you have the system we have now
So blame wage controls during WW2.
Oh and the Brits were facing similar forces when they were starting to stand up their healthcare system but decided instead to hire people to build a robust system so everyone didn’t have to pay anything at the point of sale.
I’ll never understand how people were OK with putting middlemen with an interest in denying care between them and lifesaving treatment.
because apparently, the alternative is communism, and it will have death panels that will decide if you get to live in order to save costs…
Insurance companies are deathpanels though…
I believe that was their point…
The Acquired podcast went over this history very briefly in their Epic episode and it’s so crazy how close we were to having universal healthcare.
Tl;dl:
So blame wage controls during WW2.
Oh and the Brits were facing similar forces when they were starting to stand up their healthcare system but decided instead to hire people to build a robust system so everyone didn’t have to pay anything at the point of sale.
Yeah, it really was that simple.
I prefer to blame the people who take advantage of the sick
Well, capitalists own the government that made this possible and they know a gap in the market when they see one…
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