The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1916-08-26
HEALTH INSURANCE
HISTORY REVIEWED
Work Has Become Firmly Es-
tablished Wherever Begun
Declares Report.
'eol So '"S EXTENDED TO
o., PAID WORKERS
Workers Lose $500, 600, 900 Year.
ly Through Sickness;
Legislation Urged.

war not less than six European coun-
trles adopted compulsory health in
surance for wage earners. Thus.
population totaling some 100000. 900
and including such widely different
peoples as Russians and Dutch. Brit.
lsh and Roumanians, Norwegians and
Serbs legislated for health insurance
for workers in France, Sweden. Den
mark and Switzerland.
These striking facts are made pla;n
IN the summer number Of the Amer.
lean Labor Legislation Review, pub
llshed by the American association for
labor legislation, in which, for the
first time in this country, is presented
health insurance map of Europe
with a carefully drafted bill for
American legislation and an elaborate
brief in its support. The map shows
mat In the course of few years this
new type of social legislation has
spread to every civilized, industrial
country In the old world, with a. few
exceptions. and there are indications
that Canada will adopt a similar sys-
tenn at the conclusion of the war.
Healthful Progress.
In every case where health insur
ance has once been tried it has be-
come firmly stablished, it's benefits
being extended to include all of the
low-paid workers. Would not Amer
lea then also benefit by adopting the
system? To study this question, the
association, four years ago, appointed
a special national committee includ-
Ing among its members Miles M.
Dawson leading actuary and lawyer.
Professor Henry r. Seager Of Colum-
bla University, DR.. Alexander LAM
bert, Chairman Judicial Council Of
the American Medical association.
Miss Lillian D. Wald, president of the
National Organization for Public
Health Nursing, and DR.. Henry J.
Harris of the Library of Congress. AS
a result of their work the committee
has draftHd the model health insur-
ance bill which, the secretary, DR..
John s. Andrews announces, will be
introduced into more than 20 state
legislatures next year.
Powerful arguments in support of
health insurance legislation. in Amer
lea are assembled in the brief which
quotes government reports and many
leading health and insurance author
ities which appear to establish the six
following points: (1) High sickness
and death rates prevail among Amer
ican wage earners. (2) More extended
provision for medical care among
wage earners Is necessary. (3) More
effective methods are needed for
meeting the wage loss due to illness.
(4 Additional efforts to prevent sick
ness are necessary. (5) Existing
agencies cannot meet these needs.
60 Compulsory contributory health
insurance providing medical care and
cash benefits is an appropriate
method Of securing the desired re-
suits. =.
Loss Through Sickness.
According to recent bulletin Of
the United States public health serv-.
ice $500,000,000 a year is lost in
wages to the workers Of the country
because Of disablement through sick
ness. Recent investigations show that
about rs per cent of the population
cannot afford to pay for a private,
physician. Sickness is seven times
more frequently cause Of destitution
than industrial accident. yet no Amer
lea state has as yet legislated to in
demnify the worker for this loss by
insurance, or to provide him with
medical care. A death rate twice as
high among industrial workers as
among the professional classes indi-
Gates that industrial conditions are
the cause Of much sickness and death.
The model health insurance bill
provides for the insurance Of all
workers earning less than 800 a
month by joint contributions from
employers, employees and the state.
The funds are to be controlled by
mutual associations, and medical care
and treatment together with cash
benefits Of two-thirds of wages will
be payable for a maximum of 26
weeks in a year. A small funeral
benefit, maternity benefit and medi-
cal care for the insured workers fam
lily are also included in the plan.