Evening star., 1947-05-19
Truman Message on Health

Iqe on Health
pital care, determines the distribu-
ton OF doctors and the location OF
hospitals. Few doctors can be ex-
pected to practice today in sparsely
settled areas or where prospective
patients are unable to pay for their
services. Doctors tend to concen-
trate in communities where hos
pitals and other facilities are best
and where their incomes are most
secure. The unequal distribution OF
doctors and hospitals will plague
this Nation until means are found to
finance modern medical care for all
of our people
National health insurance is the
most effective single way to meet
the Nations health needs. Because
adequate treatment of many ILL
nesses is expensive and its cost can
not be anticipated by the individual,
many persons are forced to be with
out needed medical attention. Chill
dren do not receive adequate medi-
cal and dental care. Symptoms
which should come early to the at
tention of q physician are often ig-
nored until too late. The poor are
not the only ones who cannot afford
adequate medical care. The truth
is that all except the rich may at
some time be struck by illness which
requires care and services they can
not afford. Countless families who
are entirely self-supporting in every
other respect cannot meet the ex-
pense of serious illness.
Although the individual or even
small groups of individuals cannot
successfully or economically plan
to meet the cost Of illness, large
groups of people can do so. If the
financial risk OF illness is spread
among all our people, no one person
Is overburdened. More important
IL the cost is spread in this manner
more persons can see their doctors
and will see them earlier. This goal
can be reached only through a ma
tional medical insurance program
under which all people who are COW
cred by an insurance fund are en-
titled to necessary medical, hos
pital and related services.
Social Security Extension.
A national health insurance pro-
gram Is a logical extension of the
present social security system which
is SO firmly entrenched in our
American democracy. OF the four
basic risks to the security of work
ing people and their families-un
employment, old age, death and
sickness-we have provided some
insurance protection against three
Protection against the fourth
sickness-is the ajor missing ele-
ment in our national social insur-
ance program.
An insurance plan is the American
way of accomplishing our objective.
1t is consistent with our democratic
principles. 1t is the only plan broad
enough to meet the needs of all our
people. 1t is-in the long run-far
less costly and far more effective
than public charity or a medical
dole.
Under the program which I have
proposed patients can and will be as
free to select their own doctors as
they are today. Doctors and hos
pitfalls can and will be free to par
ticipate or to reject participation
And national health insurance
plan can and should provide for ad-
ministration through State and local
agencies, subject only to reasonable
national standards.
Disability Insurance Needed.
Finally, 1 should like to repeat
to the Congress my earlier recon-
mendation that the people of Ameri-
ca be protected against loss of earn
ings due to illness or disability not
connected with their work. Protec-
ton against temporary disability
is already provided by two states
and is being considered in others.
Comprehensive disability insurance
should exist throughout the Nation
It can and should be a part of our
social insurance system.
The total health program which
! have proposed is crucial to our
national welfare. The heart of that
program is national health insur-
ance. Until it Is part of our ma
tional fabric, we shall be wasting
our most precious national resource
and shall be perpetuating unneces-
sary misery and human suffering.
I urge the Congress to give i'm
mediate attention to the develop
ment and enactment of national
health and disability insurance
programs.
HARRY S. TRUMAN.