Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1919-11-01
SATURDAY. . NOVEMBER /, 1919
WAR RISK INSURANCE AND TIE
EN- SOLDIERS.

hutcd about one 1Ourth OF the man
power of the forces Of the United
States engaged in the war.
1t is estimated that 100000 men fhO
served in the Army the Navy and the
Marine Corps were born and reared
on American farms.
A total OF 1890 men took out
War Risk Insurance, their aggregate
policies totaling nearly $40,O00,000
600 and each policy averaging $500.
OF this total insurance, service men
from the farming districts carried
approximately s1O,420, 100000, and
by far tho greater percentage Of this
insurance was made payable to wiz
cs, mothers, fathers and other rela-
tivcs who reside on farms.
The average age Of the men who
fell in action, died Of wounds or from
other causes during the war, was %
years and because OF their youth by
far the greater percentage were un
married men. Which explains why
AZ per cent of the policies taken out
named mothers rs bcncficiarics, 16
per cent named fathers and only z
per cent named wives.
In the original War Risk Act pro-
vision was made for the policies writ
ten on service men during the war
I" be continued as permanent Govern
mont Insurance TO avail themselves
of the opportunity to convert their
War Risk Insurance into permanent
United States Government Insurance
1t is necessary that the men discharg
cd from service continue to pay their
monthly premiums, and at some time
during the five years following the
formal declaration OF peace that they
convert into a permanent policy.
From the record it appears that
only about twenty-five per cent of
the men who had insurance during
the War are continuing to keen IN
Their insurance. This is largely due
to the fact that the men were unfam-
liar with the provisions Of the act,
or that they have not felt financial
~ able to carry their insurance at
this time.
TO guard against any man los
ing his right to Government Insurance
because OF this condition the Sccre-
tary or the Treasury recently issued
ruling allowing every man eighteen
months in which he has the oppor--
UNITY to rcinstate his insurance aft
er he has allowed it to lapse because
or nonpaymcnt CT premiums.
RMS reinstatement privilege should
nc clearly understood. So long as q
man Is not paying his premiums he
Is not insured. His reinstatement priv
llege merely gives him the right to
again have Government Insurance
without undergoing physical cxami-
ha'loh ana upon the payment OF two
months premiums.
nation wide campaign has been
lnaugurated for direct personal con
tact with former service men through
which they may be informed of
their rights to permanent Govern
ment Insurance, and in this campaign
have been enlisted the American Red
CROSS, the Y. M. c.. A., the Knights
OF columbus, the Salvation Army, the
\. M. IL. A., the Boy Scouts, and
numerous other National social wei
rare organizations. In addition more
than $4,000 life insurance agents have
neen enlisted. The volunteer roll fur
ther Includes thousands of bankers,
doctors, lawyers, manufacturers, 9th
CT business men and representatives
OF all associations which come in con
tact with discharged service men and
their dependents.
The former service man who lives
on tho farm will be reached to a largo
extent through banks which have vol
uhlecred TO serve as clearing houses
lor information on War Risk Insur
ance.
There are six permanent forms of
government insurance, as follows:
l. 2O-Ycar Endowment.
2. 30-Year Endowment
3.20-Payment Life.
43O-Payment Life.
b. Endowment at age GO.
6. Ordinary Life.
Applications are being received by
the Bureau Of War Risk Insurance
Tor changing the present term insur
ance, which was issued at the time
OF entering the service into the per
mancnt forms.
Ten features which prominently
stand out in the government policy
are as follows:
l. The total permanent disability
clause rs granted without cost to
the insured and it is free from all
restrictions.
z. Government insurance does NOT
charge its policy holders any over
head expense.
3. 1t contains an extremely liberal
definition.
4. 1t gives very substantial pay
ments.
b. 1t contains no age restrictions.
b. 1t is unrestricted as to travel,
residence or occupation
7. Premiums paid in advance are
refunded down to the month, in case
of death.
8. The policy is non taxable.
y. Unusually liberal cash, loan. paid