The US Healthcare system has had several highs and lows in the almost hundred years that it has been around. It has made some remarkable and significant progress since the time that it was first introduced. In order to understand the present state of the US Health care system it is imperative that we take a look at the past.

The contribution of Teddy Roosevelt:
The first of these health care reforms were heard of in 1910 when Teddy Roosevelt ran for the presidential election. Some of the reforms that he promised in his campaign of 1912 were the protection for workers, women's rights to vote and a national health care program. But, Teddy Roosevelt lost the election of 1912.

The first early model of a health care system:
Then in the year 1929 the first prepaid health care program was born in Baylor Hospital in Dallas. This is the first time that a health care model was seen. This was formed for a group of teachers. A similar plan was implemented by a doctor in Oklahoma but for farmers this time. The farmers would pay a regular premium to be covered in the plan and get the services from the doctor when needed.
These health care plans that were floated by individuals began to grow in popularity. But, the sad thing was that they did not include the elderly and the unemployed who needed health care benefits the most.

The 1930s
This was the time when FDR Roosevelt tried to bring about the national health reform. It was supposed to be a part of the social security legislation. Then, Truman wanted to set up a national fund for health care. The way he envisaged it is that everyone would pay for it and then people's health care needs would be addressed when the need arose.

The end of World War II
This was the time when the gap between the health care provided and what people actually needed began to become extremely obvious. At that point of time Congress passed a bill stating that more hospitals needed to be built. They did not cover equal care for everybody although they did mention a whole lot of charity work.

Then, by the 1950s the labor unions began to demand health care in their pay package. This was the first time round that group insurance for staff was seen. This was so very popular that in the year Congress voted that this should be exempt from tax.
JFK fought hard for the national health care system.
In spite of this it met with criticism and was vetoed down. But, it still did see the birth of Medicaid and Medicare. At the same time health care in America was rising drastically.

1970 onwards
President Nixon was in favor of the Health care bill being passed and his election campaign ran predominantly on this idea. Although he won the election the idea had to be put on hold due to the severe recession at that time.

The first reform that was to come about was under President Clinton. The task was set rolling by Hillary Clinton. In the year 2003 George Bush passed the Medicare prescription plan which helped fund prescriptions. President Obama's election campaign was heavily tinged on the health reform.