Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-10-16
Mutual Health Associations.

The institution of mutual health insurance
companies, is,of recent date among us, but the
results have thus far demonstrated, not only their
safe Practicabilty but their great utility also.-
They are based upon the system of mutual in
sunnces. The members pay in certain sum
annually, If they remain in good health du,
ring the year, they of course receive nothing.
lfthey fall sick, they receive certain amount
of money each week of their sickness, which
sum is rated according to tire amount they have
paid mat the beginning of the year. If there
should be prevailing uncommon epidemic, and
so mahy of the members should be sick as to
use up all the fuhds,a tax or assessment must
be laid upon the members, to pay the expenses.
This last case has never, u our knowledge, hap
pensd TO any institution Of the.kind in this coun-
tFy. 0nzhe caetr-y, tAsssGiods have increased,
and sometimes dividend of interest has been
made%, By the report of an association Of this
kind, in Massachusetts, the amount Of moneys
paid out to the sick last month, August which
is generally a sickly month, was $6,794-this
would seem to be large sum-but there was
paid in by members, in regular course, $l0,545,
which was enough you will perceive, to pay the
current benefits or dues to the sick, pay many
other expenses Of the association, and leave
handsome balance on hand to meet further con-
tingencies.
Now the benefits of such an association to a
farmer or mechanic of moderate means, will at
once be seen. We will suppose he is not a
member-he falls sick, say in August. The
work on the farm stands still-nay, it doesn't
stand still, it goes backward. His crops, to be
sure, are growing, and so are the weeds and he
can't hoe them up. IIaying comes on, and he
is not there to attend to it, and everybody is
busy; help is not to be had and if it could be,
his bills Of sickness are running away with his
means. Here is trouble enough to aggravate
his sickness and make his chances of recovery
less. Now suppose he is member of health
assocaton-has paid in certain sum, say 81 so
for membership and 81 for cert6cate-if he falls
sick he is entitled to receive tloo dOLLaes ,ceek
while sick. If he paid five dollars year he
receives five per week, and if eight dollars a
year he receives eight per week. This woult
help him essentially--it would furnish him with
help to see to his work, his hoeing and haying
while sick, or if he be furnished with help, l
would pay the whole or part Of his sickness
and be Of great service to him. The sam'
reasoning will apply to the mechanic, to th'
trader, &c.
A calculation Of chances, as well as years o
experience, among those who have charge o
these institutions, demonstrate that when on
Quoted OH correct principles, they are safe ant
cEsinentlg. -hana6rial s.--.
In full consideration Of these principles, WI
have deemed it our duty to become a member O
one of them, and accordingly on application wa
admitted to the Howard Mutual Health Asso
citation, recently established at Portland, which
from the representation Of friends, the respecta
bility Of its references, and an examination o
its schedule or scheme of benefits, which yol
will find In our advertising columns, we below
to be planned and conducted on safe and correc
principles and in the hands of experiences
men.
We would urge the consideration of this sub
ject on our readers. The expenses per annun
are not great and if health continues will nc
be felt, and if health should fail would atfor
valuable aid in the hour of need.-.Naine Farme,