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Committee on Economic Security
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President
Roosevelt chose Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor, to lead the
efforts of the Committee on Economic Security. He gave the
committee six months to develop the master plan and associated
legislative proposal. The group focused on:
- Old-age programs
- Unemployment programs
- Health insurance
Public opinion was opposed to including
medical care and health insurance as a part of the legislative
proposal. When the bill was presented to Congress, it
addressed primarily old-age programs and unemployment programs.
It did give state governments money (as matching funds) for maternal
and infant care, rehabilitation of disabled children, aid for
children under 16 years of age and minor public health services
support. The bill was adopted and became law in 1935. |
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Efforts by Presidents Truman,
Johnson and Clinton for social insurance programs
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President Harry
Truman was the next President who worked to introduce a national
health insurance program. This occurred after the end of World
War II and was soundly defeated because many felt it represented
"socialized medicine." Major opponents labeled it "communism."
In the 1960s, President Lyndon Johnson
introduced the Great Society legislation. Medicare and
Medicaid programs appeared as a part of this plan and granted
dollars to provide healthcare services to the elderly and poor.
President Bill Clinton most recently
introduced legislation to cover the 44 million Americans who have no
health insurance. Many of these people are labeled as "the
working poor." His wife, Hilary Clinton, lead efforts for this
reform but it was defeated. |
