The Historical Context of Healthcare in America

In the mid-1800s, hospitals in the U.S. were grim places mainly frequented by the poor, often viewed as facilities with high mortality rates. Healthcare knowledge was limited at the time, with prevalent treatments such as bloodletting and administering toxic substances like mercury. The societal infrastructure did not support health insurance, leaving the majority of Americans to rely on home care from local doctors or family members. As America transitioned toward industrialization, there arose a pressing need to protect workers from the financial fallout of illness, sparking early discussions of health insurance as a form of workplace benefit.