In 1798, President John Adams signed the Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen, imposing a twenty cent per month tax on sailors to be used to pay for care at various American ports. This act led to the eventual development of the U.S. Public Health Service.
In your post, respond to the following questions and, if it’s relevant, include your own personal experience:
- Why would the federal government single out sailors for a mandatory health insurance fee?
- Why would state governments think this was a good idea? What would be the advantages of this approach for state governments?
- Be sure to include the historical role of the federal and state governments in health care delivery in your discussion.