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Health Insurance : Throughline Health insurance for millions of Americans is dependent on their jobs. But it's not like that everywhere. So, how did the U.S. end up with such a fragile system that leaves so many vulnerable or with no health insurance at all? On this episode, how a temporary solution created an everlasting problem.

Throughline

The Everlasting Problem

The Everlasting Problem

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  • Health care reform supporters participate in a sit-in inside the lobby of a building where Aetna insurance offices are located, September 29, 2009 in New York City.
    Health care reform supporters participate in a sit-in inside the lobby of a building where Aetna insurance offices are located, September 29, 2009 in New York City.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images
  • President Lyndon Johnson signing the Medicare Bill as Harry Truman looks on, July 30, 1965.
    President Lyndon Johnson signing the Medicare Bill as Harry Truman looks on, July 30, 1965.
    Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty

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Health insurance for millions of Americans is dependent on their jobs. But it's not like that everywhere. So, how did the U.S. end up with such a fragile system that leaves so many vulnerable or with no health insurance at all? On this episode, how a temporary solution created an everlasting problem.

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