Historic Reform

Social security and healthcare in the U.S. are controversial topics that have encountered and continue to face dissimilar support and political visions.

On one side are the people maintaining the idea that the state should intervene in order to create a system of a solid social protection. On the other extreme are the individuals and groups arguing that it is not up to the state to provide social security, but rather the free market.

The policies drafted by legislators with these radically different positions on the topic have led to only the most privileged being able to afford medical insurance, leaving millions of citizens unable to even afford health care.

The two radical positions have confronted each other throughout history, but social security was still established on August 14, 1935 under the government of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Later on, President Harry S. Truman attempted to stimulate the creation of a national healthcare system, which ended up failing to pass under the harsh opposition that controlled Congress at the time.

It wasn’t until Lyndon B. Johnson’s administration in 1965 that the laws regarding social security were reformed, allowing the creation of two institutions: Medicaid, an insurance system for the poorest and the disabled; and Medicare, a system created to provide insurance for retirees.

It is true that the Social Security reform represented an important step toward offering U.S. citizens universal healthcare insurance. However, the application of the reform remained short in its objective.

Bill Clinton’s administration attempted to revitalize and pass the same reform during his presidency, but the opposition prevailed and the initiative remained a work in progress.

The reform had to wait until the advent of Barack Obama’s administration. In keeping with his campaign promise, health care reform has become a reality in the United States after 45 years of expectancy.

Last Sunday, the U.S. Congress approved the reform, and on Tuesday, President Barack Obama executed the Congress’ program so that it could become law.

During the long debate, the two radically opposite parties argued again regarding the role of the state in society.

The confrontation was at such an extreme that not one of the congressmen from the opposition party voted in favor of the reform. More so, certain states are preparing appeals to the unconstitutionality of the new healthcare policies.

However, what is certain is that more than 30 million of the U.S. citizens without medical insurance will obtain health coverage. Also, the private insurance companies will be subject to new regulations supposedly preventing excesses, discriminations and abuses.

The current reform represents a step that may allow the future passage of universal health care coverage in the United States, longed for by many.