Healthcare Through the Age
Embarking On A Patient Journey
Embarking on this journey to Help patients and their families be fiscally protected both financially and in Health. My desire to change focus in my career is, in large, a complex one. I can't help but look to the beginning of what we now know as our Healthcare systems.
If we look back in History, we paid for Healthcare in many ways. Combine that with the evolution of technology. Our local Doctor was paid with cash and for folks that didn't have money. They settled with Coffee, tea, wine, linen, Eggs, vegetables from the garden. Sometimes it would be doing his laundry into the 19th Century.
In the 19th Century
In the 19th Century, the evolution of Healthcare began to take form. Medicine by the 1890s found the increased use of lab tests by the 1900s. The use of X-rays and surgery began to take a more modern form.
The evolution of X-ray, Anesthesia, Surgery, and Pharmaceuticals, continued into the 20th Century. Over the early years, doctors took Tonsils out on the kitchen table to increase Office procedures and therapies that patients were willing to pay more. So we move from house calls to the Office. Then the evolution of Hospitals and Doctors specializing in different areas of medicine.
While Doctors Evolve, So Does the Healthcare Delivery System.
1. In the early 1900s:
Physicians create the American Medical Association.
The American Medical Association is a professional association of physicians. It was founded in 1847 and had more than 250,000 members.
- The AMA is the nation’s largest medical organization and represents physicians in all specialties, medical students, residents, and other healthcare professionals. It works to improve the quality of care for patients by influencing health policy and legislation. The AMA also publishes a monthly journal for its members, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
2. The year 1912:
Theodore Roosevelt campaigns for Mandatory health insurance.
- President Roosevelt campaigned for national health insurance coverage because he wanted to provide a basic level of protection for everyone. He advocated social welfare and believed that this would be the best way to provide security for all citizens.
3. For the 1920's:
The Cost of Healthcare increase, making it less affordable to the middle class.
- This was a time of significant change in the United States. The country saw an increase in the cost of healthcare, making it less affordable to the middle class.
- In 1920, the average monthly health insurance premium cost $2.50, increasing to $12 per month by 1930. As a result, health insurance became unaffordable for Americans who were not wealthy enough to afford it.
4. 1930's:
The Depression, The Social Security Act didn't address health insurance.
The American Medical Association, against health insurance programs due to bureaucracy and limiting doctors' freedom to practice medicine. Blue Cross begins offering Insurance for Hospitalization.
- The Social Security Act, also known as the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Act, is a United States federal law that provides retirement pensions, disability insurance, and survivors' benefits.
- Signed into law on August 14th, 1935, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Thus created to provide financial security for the elderly and those unable to work due to injury or illness.
- Designed to provide economic security for all Americans through social insurance programs.
5. In the 1940's:
During World War II, employers started offering health insurance. To offset the wage controls during that period. President Harry S Truman proposed "Socialized Medicine."
- In the 1940s, employers started offering health insurance to their employees to offset the wage controls during that period.
- The cost of healthcare is a major concern for many Americans. It was in the 1940s that employer-sponsored plans became popular as a way for companies to compete for workers during World War II.
- Health insurance has been around since the early 20th century when it was introduced by John D. Rockefeller, Sr. in 1911 as a way to provide more affordable coverage for his employees at Standard Oil Company (now ExxonMobil).
6. In the 1950s:
Few changes to Healthcare due to the Korean War. However, tax incentives to entice more employee-based Insurance, as we have today.
Baylor University began to offer health insurance in the 1950s. The insurance was not provided initially by Baylor University but rather through a group plan provided by the Baylor Alumni Association.
The first step toward Baylor's own health care coverage occurred in 1965 when the Baylor Faculty Senate passed a resolution that would allow faculty and staff to purchase supplemental medical coverage from Blue Cross of Texas.
- In 1973, Baylor began to offer a group health plan for employees and their families. The project was through Blue Cross of Texas.
- In 1981, Baylor became an HMO with Blue Cross of Texas as its provider.
- In 1988, Baylor became an HMO with Cigna Healthcare as its provider.
- In 1992, the university switched from being an HMO to being a PPO.
7. In the 1960s:
President Johnson signed Medicare into law for the 65 and over. Medicaid was established for long-term Care for the poor and disabled. By 1969, 69% of all physicians were now specialized.
- In the 1960s, President Johnson signed Medicare into law for the 65 and over. Medicaid was established for long-term care.
- How did Medicare and Medicaid come to be?
- Medicare was created in 1965 as a federally funded health insurance program for people aged 65 or older, younger people with disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease. The Social Security Act of 1965 created the program to provide medical coverage for retired workers. The Act also created the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, which benefits disabled individuals who are considered unemployable due to a mental or physical disability.
- Medicaid is a joint federal and state health care assistance program that provides medical coverage for low-income individuals and families with limited resources.
8. The 1970s:
After the passage of Medicare and Medicaid, the Cost of Healthcare increased, and President Nixon enacted the HMO Act to reduce costs.
- In the 1970s, President Nixon enacted the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) to control the cost of healthcare.
- The HMO was a system that provided health insurance to those rejected by other insurers. It was less costly than different types of health insurance, and it allowed patients to choose their doctors and hospitals.
- However, some people felt that it restricted their freedom of choice and was not as good as traditional health insurance.
9. The 1980s:
Healthcare moves to more Privatized and the creation of the Larger hospital Systems.
- The 1980s was a time of change for the healthcare industry. In the 1970s, the healthcare system became more privatized, and large hospital systems were created.
- In the 1980s, there were two significant changes in our healthcare system. The first was that private companies started to take over hospitals and health insurance companies. The second change was that larger hospital systems began to be created.
- The 1980s saw many changes in the U.S. healthcare system. Private companies took over hospitals, health insurance providers, and larger hospital systems were formed, and medical groups that cared for large numbers of patients in one location.
10. The 1990's:
Cost of Healthcare rises double the rate of inflation. More managed Care in another attempt to mitigate the Cost.
- The 1990s saw a sharp rise in the cost of healthcare. Part of this was because the inflation rate was higher than in previous decades. Some other factors contributed to the increased cost.
- One of these is the increased use of managed care, a type of health insurance that limits coverage and care to those who need it most.
11. The 2000's:
Medicare is now at risk to continue to be sustainable. Reform begins to attempt to cover a large number of uninsured. The advertising of Drugs increases on television.
- The United States Medicare is a public insurance program that provides health insurance coverage to 65 years of age or older and some younger people with disabilities. Medicare is funded by the federal government and administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
- Medicare provides health insurance coverage to more than 50 million Americans, including those who have a retiree-only range and those who have no other type of coverage. The program's name comes from the fact that it covers only part of the cost of certain medical services.
- In the 2000s, Medicare is now at risk of continuing to be sustainable. The 2026 projected date for insolvency will not be reached if changes are made, but it will not last forever.
The advertising of drugs on television has been steadily increasing in the 2000s. The use of health insurance to cover the cost of prescription drugs has been steadily decreasing.
The advertising of drugs on TV has increased exponentially over the past decade. This is primarily due to the increase in drug prices and the decrease in health insurance coverage for prescription drugs.
12. 2010's Obamacare:
- The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is a federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010.
- The law requires all Americans to have health insurance and provides subsidies for those who cannot afford it.
- The law also prevents insurance companies from denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions or charging more for people in poor health. It also mandates that employers provide affordable coverage and creates state exchanges for individuals to purchase private insurance plans.
So just what am I trying to say? My goal is to explain to the consumer just where the issues lie in the world of Healthcare. The road has been rocky and may become rockier as we move forward. My team and I encourage you to stay turned for more. Learn how and what you the consumer, can do to optimize your Healthcare choices. We could sit around and wait for the government to make changes. But, let me say the change that may happen, with not be good ones for the consumer. Join us to become empowered.
