Product Description
Every industrial nation in the world guarantees its citizens access to essential health care services--every country, that is, except the United States. In fact, one in eight Americans--a shocking 43 million people--do not have any health care insurance at all. One Nation, Uninsured offers a vividly written history of America's failed efforts to address the health care needs of its citizens. Covering the entire twentieth century, Jill Quadagno shows how each attempt to enact national health insurance was met with fierce attacks by powerful stakeholders, who mobilized their considerable resources to keep the financing of health care out of the government's hands. Quadagno describes how at first physicians led the anti-reform coalition, fearful that government entry would mean government control of the lucrative private health care market. Doctors lobbied legislators, influenced elections by giving large campaign contributions to sympathetic candidates, and organized "grassroots" protests, conspiring with other like-minded groups to defeat reform efforts. As the success of Medicare and Medicaid in the mid-century led physicians and the AMA to start scaling back their attacks, the insurance industry began assuming a leading role against reform that continues to this day. One Nation, Uninsured offers a sweeping history of the battles over health care. It is an invaluable read for anyone who has a stake in the future of America's health care system.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 10 reviews)

No Shipment by David Chester

1 Stars
September 16, 2009
The order was canceled after I was lead to beleave that the book had already been payed for.

good review by Peter Jeong (akron, ohio)

5 Stars
July 19, 2009
Good history of health care in america. It gives insight into an era before my time and answers a lot of questions about how things worked. What the social and political landscape was like. Can't wait to finish reading it.

Good supplement to Daschle's book by Hugh Hawkins (Cincinnati)

4 Stars
January 27, 2009
Much more detailed and thematic than Critical, Tom Daschle's survey of healthcare reform and brief policy presentation, this book is still very readable and is necessary for anyone who really wants to follow the battle. It is well organized and the themes are well supported, but the writing is occasionally unclear.

Surprisingly interesting and readable primer on such a complex issue by Cap10midknight

5 Stars
October 09, 2007
One Nation Uninsured is brought to life in a fresh way by various first-hand recollections that are peppered throughout detailed, academic sketches of the major historical episodes that failed to produce national health insurance. Instead of reading like another dry textbook, this book provides an informative, intimate, and plausible narrative of why many of the major players did what they did in light of their different circumstances, motivations, and temperaments. Particular attention is also paid to other important non-health care events, such as the Red Scare, Brown v. Board of Education, Watergate, and Iran-Contra, as they indirectly affected the political will to mobilize for and against national health insurance, making this account all the more believable and nicely nuanced. My only complaint is that since the book was published in 2005, 2006 Part D legislation which expanded Medicare coverage, could not be discussed, but hopefully an updated edition will be written in a few years. Overall, a surprisingly interesting and readable primer on such a complex issue.

Special Interests Prevail by Ronald C. Marshall (Petoskey, MI)

4 Stars
May 12, 2007
Very enlightening historical perspective on national health insurance. It seems special interests dominant in our democratic society. Quite surprising that both republican & democratic presidents tried to pass national health insurance. Special interests contribute to both parties and when the going gets close focus on those candidates who are vulnerable in order to entice their vote. In our current lack of bi-partisian political climate, it seems very doubtful that national health insurance has a chance of being passed.

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