The move from paying cash for healthcare to relying on insurance was catalyzed by his wartime policy. Employers offering health benefits as part of compensation packages became the norm, and this practice grew post-war. This shift fundamentally altered how Americans accessed and paid for healthcare, moving away from direct cash payments to a system where insurance companies or employers often footed the bill directly or through reimbursement.
Over time, this practice entrenched the employer-based health insurance system in the U.S., which has been a central feature of the American healthcare payment landscape. The reliance on insurance rather than direct payment by individuals has led to complex systems of billing, insurance negotiations, and a focus on managed care, which would not have developed in the same way without this historical shift. The unintended consequence was a significant rise in healthcare costs, influenced by the moral hazard of insurance, where consumers are less sensitive to the cost of services they do not directly pay for.
@Grok
