The people's voice., 1957-07-05

riers to early treatment. An adequate
program, moreover, would distribute
each years costs over the whole popu
lation instead of letting it be con
centrated on those who suffer illness
in the year. 1t would distribute each
persons costs over his working life
instead of Jumping them in his years
of greatest adversely.
This is big order. 1t calls for cor
respondingly broad action. 1t calls for
a national health insurance program.
Nothing less will do the job.
What is national health insur-
ance?
One-It is a nationwide insurance
system on a contributory basis, SINH
lar to our successful, time-tested pro-
grams of old-age and survivors in
surance and unemployment insurance.
Two-Insured persons and their
families would be entitled to compre-
hensive medical care. This would in
clude preventive and diagnostic ex-
aminations; laboratory and X-ray
services; curative treatment in the
hospital, doctors office, or patients
home; the more costly prescribed
medicines; special appliances and eye
glasses. Services of family doctors
and specialists would be covered. Den
tai care and home nursing to limited
degree would also be given.
Three-Each individual would be
free to choose and to change his doe
tor, hospital, or dentist. Actually,
many people would have freer choice
than now, because practitioners
would be attracted to many areas now
served.
Four-Physicians, dentists, and
others providing services would be as
;ured full freedom of professional
practice, including the right to accept
or reject any patient. Each would
De free to locate where he wishes and
% participate in the insurance plan
or stay out. Those who took part
would be paid from the insurance
'und in amounts and by methods |
which they or their representatives.
Five-Each insured worker would |
,ay 1 Il per cent of his income from
to limit of $50 |
'ear on earnings of $4,000 or more.
would match these pay
nents, just as they now do under the
ocial security system. Also insured
would be self-employed persons, all
ersons entitled to old-age, survivors,
r disability benefits under the Social
security Act, and all who are entitled
o an annuity under the Federal Civil
ervice Retirement Act.
Six-Members of voluntary
ealth insurance plan that meets min
mum standards could continue to
btain their medical services from
hat plan. The insurance fund would
ay their premiums.
Seven-Those persons, including
ne needy, who do not qualify as in
lred individuals, or their depend
nts, would receive the same health
ervice as the insured. Financing
ould be arranged between the
ealth-insurance system and appropri-
te public agencies.
Eight-Insurance operations would ;
2 managed within local areas under
plan adopted by each state. The
ates would be encouraged to make
sreements with voluntary health
'rvices and insurance plans. The fed +
al role would be limited substantial >
to collecting funds for distribution !.
rough the states to local practition- !.
s and service agencies, and to es-
blishing broad operating standards.
Nine-Each state would develop
ogram to encourage maximum par .
,ipation and efficient use of health o
actitioners and facilities, and also +
improve the available supply and n
distribution. 1t would be a specific n
al of the program to make available \
all health-service areas the full q
nge of medical, hospital, and other fl
rsonal health services. Financial g
d other incentives would be pro- a.
led to make practice more attrac- :,
re in areas now neglected, to assure
sh standards of service, and to en-