According to the National Library of Medicine, health policy was first introduced in the US in 1912. Teddy Roosevelt and the progressive party were in favor of social insurances, including health insurance. In the same year, the National Convention of Insurance Commissioners developed the first state law to regulate health insurance.

1912

1929

Baylor Hospital introduced a pre-paid hospital insurance plan - which contributed to future Blue Cross Plans

1935

Due to suffering from the Great Depression, Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Committee on Economic Security. The Social Security Act was passed which included grants for Maternal and Child health and restored programs from the Sheppard-Towner Act that expired in 1929.

1935

The US Public Health Service conducted the National Health Survey, now known as the National Health Interview Survey, to investigate how financial and social factors affect health.

1939

First Blue Shield Plans were created to cover the costs of physician care

1943

Wagner-Murray-Dingell bill introduced to provide universal comprehensive health insurance and change social security toward life-long social insurance. It did not pass.

1944

FDR included the right to adequate medical care and enjoy good health in his Economic Bill of Rights State of the Union Address. The Social Security Board also called for national health insurance to be required as a part of the social security system.

1947

1946

Hill-Burton Act passed, which funded construction of hospitals and prohibited discrimination of health services based on race, religion, or national origin. It also required hospitals to provide "reasonable" charitable care and allowed "separate but equal" facilities.

Wagner-Murray-Dingell bull reintroduced along with new Taft-Smith-Ball bill that would authorize grants to states for medical care for the poor.

1948

1956

Federal Security Agency convened the National Health Assembly and the final report stated the need for universal health coverage. The American Medical Association launched a campaign against national health insurance.

Government provided health insurance for dependents of those serving in Armed Forces. Forand Bill introduced to provide health insurance for beneficiaries of social security.

1960

Kerr-Mills Act passed, which used federal funding to support state programs that provide medical care to the poor and elderly.

1965

Medicare and Medicaid programs incorporated into Social Security Act. The Office For Economic Equality established Neighborhood Health Centers (later known as Federally Qualified Health Centers) to provide health and social services to poor and medically underserved communities.

Medicare and Medicaid programs incorporated into Social Security Act. The Office For Economic Equality established Neighborhood Health Centers (later known as Federally Qualified Health Centers) to provide health and social services to poor and medically underserved communities.

1965

1970

Inflation and health care costs were both growing. President Nixon put forth the Comprehensive Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), and other congressmen put forth others, splitting support for any one reform.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10810293/