Yes Virginia, More than 60 years-

[asdjrocky]

President Truman's Proposed Health Program


November 19, 1945

President Truman's plan was to improve the state of health care in the United States by addressing five separate issues. The first issue was the lack of doctors, dentists, nurses, and other health professionals in many rural or otherwise lower-income areas of the United States. He saw that "the earning capacity of the people in some communities makes it difficult if not impossible for doctors who practice there to make a living." He proposed to attract doctors to the areas that needed them with federal funding. The second problem that Mr. Truman aimed to correct was the lack of quality hospitals in rural and lower-income counties. He proposed to provide government funds for the construction of new hospitals across the country. To insure only quality hospitals were built, the plan also called for the creation of national standards for hospitals and other health centers. Mr. Truman's third initiative was closely tied to the first two. It called for a board of doctors and public officials to be created. This board would create standards for hospitals and ensure that new hospitals met these standards. The board would also be responsible for directing federal funds into medical research.

The most controversial aspect of the plan was the proposed national health insurance plan. In his November 19, 1945 address, President Truman called for the creation of a national health insurance fund to be run by the federal government. This fund would be open to all Americans, but would remain optional. Participants would pay monthly fees into the plan, which would cover the cost of any and all medical expenses that arose in a time of need. The government would pay for the cost of services rendered by any doctor who chose to join the program. In addition, the insurance plan would give a cash balance to the policy holder to replace wages lost due to illness or injury.

more at link
http://www.trumanlibrary.org/anniversaries/healthprogram.htm

[eleny]

1. I saw your posting in an earlier thread - good on you!

This deserves a thread of its own. K&R

[asdjrocky]

2. Thank you.

Health care for all has been a fundamental cornerstone of the Democratic Party more than 30 years before I even started voting. Now we are finally there. We have the majority.

How can we not make sure everyone in America gets health care?

[eleny]

3. Maybe it's time to study the Party platform again and see if he's following it

[asdjrocky]

4. This tent has gotten so big that I find myself standing

next to people who don't even know why they are here any more.

[eleny]

5. I've decided to tailor DU to my own taste

I'm not putting every Obama supporter on my Ignore list. But as soon as someone starts talking about whining or ponies, in they go. I've only put a handful of them on my list but it's made an enormous difference. It's like avoiding the nut yelling about salvation on a street corner.

Meantime, I enjoy the postings of the rest of us even if they don't hold my position on issues.