Since 1798, the US once operated a system of public health hospitals in major port cities to provide free medical care for merchant seamen. In part, their role was to check the spread of disease from other countries. At one time, there were 28 hospitals in the system. Over the years, military dependents, USCG personnel, Native Americans, and medically indigent citizens were added to the patient load. After World War II, however, efforts began in Washington to disband the system because merchant seamen were being highly paid and some officials felt it inequitable to provide free medical care not available to others. An estimated two to three million people were treated at no cost to the patients in these facilities. In 1981 POTUS Ronald Reagan (R) closed the last merchant seaman hospital, which was located in Louisiana.

The Endless GOP War on American Healthcare