How doctors helped tank universal health care

A debate has been raging over universal health care in the U.S. since the 1940s. Back then, a formidable opponent emerged to dump a lot of money into ensuring it wouldn't happen. That opponent was doctors. Today on the show, Sally Helm, a <em>Planet Money </em>reporter, comes to us in her capacity as the host of <em>HISTORY This Week </em>to detail how doctors helped tank single pay healthcare back then and the role communism played in the fight. <br /><br />A longer version of this episode is available at <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ofcvwaH9KjFJFp2y45I2r" target="_blank"><em>HISTORY This Week</em></a> from the History Channel. <br /><br /><strong>Related episodes:<br /></strong>Why do hospitals keep running out of generic drugs? (<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?i=1000674496824" target="_blank">Apple</a> / <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5wRVxiLH8CASbmiQsnZaBx?si=006db814e2e84a93" target="_blank">Spotify</a>)<br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/03/26/981686254/socialism-101" target="_blank">Socialism 101</a><br /><br /><em>For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at </em><a href="http://plus.npr.org/" target="_blank"><em>plus.npr.org</em></a><em>.<br /><br />Fact-checking by </em><a href="https://www.npr.org/people/g-s1-26724/sierra-juarez" target="_blank"><em>Sierra Juarez</em></a><em>. Music by </em><a href="https://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank"><em>Drop Electric</em></a><em>. Find us: </em><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@planetmoney" target="_blank"><em>TikTok</em></a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/planetmoney/" target="_blank"><em>Instagram</em></a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/planetmoney" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a>, <a href="https://www.npr.org/newsletter/money" target="_blank"><em>Newsletter</em></a><em>. </em><br /><br />See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>