The history of cheap health insurance

The history of health insurance is a rather recent one. Most programs are changed on an annual basis, and the concept itself was only born in the 1800s. Cheap health insurance used to be the norm, but as more and more options came about, the costs started to go up. Here are some of the more significant events in the history of health insurance.

Insurance was first offered in the U.S. in 1866, but this particular insurance only covered accidents. People back then had to rely on their own pockets for medical services. For those who are employed, significant developments occurred in the mid to late 19th century. Workers’ compensation, which provides workers with wage replacement and medical benefits if they’re injured on the job and unable to work, was first brought about to protect railroad workers . At first they were voluntary, but soon laws started to be enacted to make sure the benefits were available at all times and not just when it was most convenient for employers.

In the 1929 the first modern-day health insurance plan was created by a teacher’s union in Dallas, Texas. In the coming decade many companies began sprouting form to offer the same, and in the 1930s Blue Cross and Blue Shield came about as non-profits that helped people get access to cheap health insurance by taking advantage of bulk buying power.

In 1985, one of the most significant pieces of health insurance legislation came about in the form of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985(COBRA). A significant step in making health insurance affordable, the act helped millions of unemployed workers get health coverage that was similar to that offered by their former employers.

Insurance is still evolving. The recent healthcare reform will change health insurance again, in ways that people don’t even know. But you can always count on one solid foundation, and that’s us. We’ll always be here to help you find the best rates for finding cheap health insurance, no matter what your situation is.