Fraternal organizations and friendly societies provided health insurance for hundreds of thousands of Americans and Britons before the surge of the welfare state. Their rapid disappearance underscores the fragility of voluntary institutions when challenged by government power.
Health Insurance Before the Welfare State
The Destruction of Self-Help by State Intervention
By Pavel Chalupníček, Luká Dvořák
This
article
appeared in
the Winter 2008/09 issue of The Independent Review.
EconomyEntitlements and WelfareFree Market EconomicsGovernment and PoliticsHealth and HealthcareHealth InsuranceThe Nanny State