Harry S. Truman: Special Message to the Congress Recommending a Comprehensive Health Program

Explanation and Analysis of the Document

Truman's plan was to improve the U.S. health care system by addressing several issues. The first was the paucity of doctors, dentists, nurses, and other health professionals in many rural and low-income areas. He notes that “the earning capacity of the people in some communities makes it difficult if not impossible for doctors who practice there to make a living.” He believed that federal funding could be used to attract doctors to the areas that needed them. The second issue was that too many rural and low-income counties lacked quality hospitals. His proposal was to use federal funds to construct new hospitals in these areas. To ensure that the new hospitals met professional standards, his plan targeted the development of national standards for hospitals and other health centers. Truman's third proposal was an outgrowth of the first two: He called for the formation of a board of doctors and public officials who would set standards for hospitals and ensure that new hospitals met these standards. Such a board would also take the lead in directing federal medical research.

Truman's most controversial proposal was for a national health insurance plan. In his message to Congress, he urged the creation of a national health insurance fund that the federal government would run. This fund would be available to all Americans, but it would remain optional. Those who chose to participate would pay monthly fees, which would be used to cover the cost of medical expenses that arose in a time of need. The government, in turn, would issue payments to those doctors who chose to join the program. The insurance plan would also provide payments for policy holders to replace wages lost because of illness or injury.