Health care legislation in American history is often defined by a few major milestones; Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but one of these health care plans stands apart from the rest. Unlike Medicaid and Medicare, Social Security has proven beneficial in more ways than one.
In 1935, Social Security was enacted in the United States by Franklin Roosevelt, in order to aid many American citizens- especially to provide economic security for citizens of America. Employers, as well as employees, pay social security taxes, which are used to fund benefits for elderly people who are retired or whomever else qualifies.
Prior to when the Social Security Act was signed into law, the aftermath of the civil war had left many states devastated. Some soldiers who fought in the battle died leaving behind widows and children, while others were injured, destined to a life of disability, leading to a need for the benefits they received through Social Security. After the Civil War, America went through many changes that called for insurance of their health. Their life expectancies were expanding, the Industrial Revolution came about, and higher concentrations of people were moving from the country side to the cities.
But in 1929, just when the New York Stock Exchange was at its highest point, Black Friday and the Stock Market Crash occurred; putting Americans in fear of what would come next. Poverty among the elderly was a large issue, and Francis Townsend proposed pensions to provide aid for the elderly. The signing of the Social Security Act was in response to the idea of pension checks for the poor elderly citizens of America.
http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade20.html
http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h1609.html
http://www.ssa.gov/history/towns5.html
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