The first major attempt for instituting universal health care reform was pioneered by President Harry S. Truman. That effort failed.
Almost thirty years later, President Lyndon Johnson, as part of his Great Society program, was able to successfully pass Medicare and Medicaid. These programs covered the very poor and the elderly. But Johnson failed to get the universal coverage he sought for all citizens.
More than twenty years later, President Clinton made universal health care coverage a major part of his campaign platform. Early in his first term, he appointed First Lady Hillary Clinton to oversee a task force to review and debate methods for health care reforms. Some officials questioned having a First Lady in such a role but some quieted their criticism after they witnessed Mrs. Clinton's keen abilities in the role and as she spoke before congressional committees.
After the task force completed their work, President Clinton submitted his proposal for universal health insurance to Congress. Clinton urged Congress to pass the bill by the end of the next year and encouraged bipartisan cooperation in the effort. Congress debated the bill and several alternative plans were submitted but ultimately the health care reform bill was quashed in September 1994.
Even though his health care plan failed, President Clinton continued to advocate health benefits for disadvantaged populations like the poor and the elderly. Despite some efforts from Congress to resolve the health care burden, many Americans still did not have adequate health insurance.
Today, we are in the process of another health care reform effort by President Obama and Congressional Democrats. The reform this time is more modest and would create a combination of private health insurance for those already covered by employers and a public option that would cover all the other uninsured or underinsured. How does the debate during the Clinton Presidency mirror the pro vs. con arguments being used today?
Learning Activity
Assign students to create a report of at least 150 words (or a presentation of at least seven slides) that cites at least four resources.
Pathfinder
Click the Topics tab > The Clinton Years (c. 1993 - 2001) > Healthcare.
Students should address the following essential questions for critical thinking (you should add of substitute others):
What were some of the arguments against health care reform during the Clinton administration?
What were some of the arguments for health care reform?
How did party affiliation correlate with the pro and con positions and why?
What similarities and differences do the current health care reform pro and con positions with those of the Clinton administration?
What is your position on health care reform and why?
Use our custom ProQuest models for written or PowerPoint reports written and PowerPoint-style reports.
The first major attempt for instituting universal health care reform was pioneered by President Harry S. Truman. That effort failed.
