[Las Vegas Ron]

The advent of, what were they called- PPE's? in the late 1970’s has caused all of this.

My recollection was it was the HMO (health maintenance orgs.) started by Kennedy in 1973??

You could be right though.

[KittenClaws]

No, you're right - HMO’s. I was thinking about PPI, or Pre Paid Insurance.

I recall it was sometime in the 1970’s though, because I gained such a policy through my employer. They paid the premiums at 100% as part of a benefit package. I was way too young to appreciate that way back then. LOL!

[grania]

I think you're correct.

HMOs changed things from catastrophic care insurance unless a person opted for more coverage to a system where the insurer took total control, not just of medical care, but of health maintenance and well being. It's been downhill since then, with people jumping through all the hoops just to get "free" stuff because it's covered.