Some Important Dates in the History of Health Insurance

Year	Country	Nature of Insurance	Funding
1883	Germany	compulsory for workers	1/3 employers 1/3 employees
1891	Sweden	voluntary compulsory in 1955	private gov't
1892	Denmark	voluntary	private
1911	Gt. Britain	compulsory	44% employees 33% employers 22% gov't
1929-	U.S.	Bl Cross: hosp. Bl Shield: med.	private
1945	France	compulsory	gov't
1948	Gt. Britain	univ. health care	gov't
1965	U.S.	medicare: elderly medicaid: poor	gov't