Page 305 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers
P. 305
A Patriot’s view of the history and direction of our Country
water, there was light at the end of the tunnel for the economy. As
our Country evolved from the depression – which was also an
international crisis – the population began to realize the end of the
temporary Well Fair public assistance programs. There were no
earned entitlement programs (Benefit Culture), but the first of them
would soon be developed. The Social Security System was
developed to provide a subsidized retirement – not full retirement –
to those that had worked to a specified age. There was no Medicare
or disability under the original Social Security System. World War II
united our Country while creating financial hardships for many – in
part due to rationing of consumer goods, and the wage and price
freezes imposed to prevent gouging of consumers. Unions then
presented the first work-around for price freezes by supporting the
first workplace benefit of healthcare for teachers.
The early healthcare system was for treatment, not prevention,
of medical needs. As this benefit would expand and morph into a
preventive lifestyle, the costs would also increase. Jumping to as
recent as the 1960’s and 1970’s, healthcare insurance was no longer
major medical, it became preventive. Preventive medicine increases
mortality and provides for a higher quality of living. It also adds to
the cost-basis, as every insured, not just an actuarial percentage,
would have claims – program liabilities to every taxpayer. A patient
would have annual physicals and discounted prescriptions and other
medical care for a monthly premium and annual deductible. The
patient would go to the doctor for treatment and pay for the
appointment. They would then submit the claim to the insurance
company for 80% of the cost, paying 20% themselves. There was
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