The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1916-06-17
GOVERNMENT INSURANCE.

w v GNANMGN ANoO N<aANSG.
Twenty-Five out OF every 1000
employees in American industries,
according to recent statistics, are
constantly incapacitated by sick
ness, the average worker losing
approximately nine days each
year on this account. This mon
effective rate' for the great army
of industrial workers in the
United States barely suggests the
total money loss to employers and
employees. The lessened eftici-
ency, the effects of reduced earn
ings in times of sickness, as we'll
as the cost of medical attention,
and the economic loss from deaths
swell the cost of industry and to
the nation to almost incalculable
figures.
That much of this loss is moth
ing less than preventable waste
and that this waste can be large
ly reduced by properly conduct
ed system of governmental health
insurance for wageworkers are
conclusions set forth in Public
Health Bulletin No. 70, contain
ing the results of a study Of
Health Insurance-Its Relation
to the Public Health" just issued
by the United States Public
Health Service.
The preventive value of health
insurance is given especial en-
phasis in this study. "Any system
of health insurance for the United
States or any State should at its
inception have prevention of sick
ness as one of its fundamental
purposes" says the bulletin.
This country should profit by the
experience of European countries
where prevention is being recog-
nized as the central idea necessary
to health insurance if health insur-
ance is to attain its greatest sue
cess in improving the health and
efficiency of the industrial popu-
lation."
Such system, it is pointed out
in the bulletin, would: I. Pro-
vide cash benefits and medical SER
vice for all wage-earners in times
of sickness at much less cost than
is now possible. Adequate
medical relief would thus be
placed within the reach of even
the lowest paid workers who are
most subject to ill-health.
?. Distribute the cost among
employers, employees, and the pub
lie as the groups responsible for
disease causing conditions and af-
ford these groups definite fnan-
cial incentive for removing these
conditions. This can be done by
means of small weekly payments
from employees, supplemented by
proportionate contributions from
employers and government at a
rate reducible in proportion to the
reduction of sickness.
| 3. Become an effective health
measure by linking the co-opera-
tive efforts of the three RESPONSE
BILE groups with the work of ma.
tional. state and local health
agencies, and by utilizing these
agencies in the administration oil
the health insurance system.
| 4. Afford a better basis for the
cooperation of the medical pro.
fession with public health agen.
cies.
! 5. Eliminate the elements Of
paternalism and charity-givin by
making employees and the public
as we'll as employers, joint agents
IN the control of this fund.
"A governmental system Of
health insurance" concludes tho
study, can be adapted to Ameri.
can conditions, and when adapted
will prove to be health measure
of extraordinary value"
Every loyal red-blooded Ameri.
can believes firmly in the doctrine
OF adequate defense for this ma.
ton. Only such out and out pa.
cifists as Bryan and Ford are ad.
verse to providing sufficient arm.
ament to protect this nation
AGAINST y DoSc;k1a f,-,: e.