The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1919-10-03
INSURANCE NEWS
SERVICE MEN URGED TO REIN
STATE LAPSED
POLICIES.

The farms of the country contrib
uted about one-fourth of the man
power of the forces of the United
States engaged in the war.
1t is estimated that 100000 men
who served in the Army the Navy
and the Marine Corps were born and
reared on American farms.
A total of 1858, 048, men took out
War Risk Insurance, their aggregate
policies totalling nearly 4O,00O,OOO,
and each policy averaged $500. OF
this totalinsurance, service men from
the farming districts carried approx
imately $10,42O, 100000 and by far
the greater percentage of this insur-
ance was made payable to wives.
mothers, fathers and other relatives
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
AT per cent of the policies taken out
named mothers as benefciries, 16 per
cent named fathers and only 2 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
to be continued as permanent Gov
eminent Insurance. To avail them
selves of the opportunity to convert
their War Risk Insurance into per-
manent United States Government
Insurance it is necessary that the
men discharged from the service con-
tinue to pay their monthly premiums,
and at some time during the five
years following the formal declar-
alton of peace that they convert in
to. 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 keep up
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 financially
able to carry their insurance at this
time.
To guard against any man losing
his right to Government Insurance
because of this condition the Secre-
tary of the Treasury recently issued
a ruling allowing every man eighteen
months in which he has the oppor-
tunity to reinstate his insurance af-
ter he has allowed it to lapse because
of non-payment of premiums.
This reinstatement privilege should
be clearly understood. So long as a
man is not paying his premiums he
is not insured. His reinstatement
privilege merely gives him the right
to again have Government Insurance
without undergoing physical exam
ination, and upon the payment of
two months premiums.
A nation wide campaign has been
inaugurated for direct personal con-
tact with former service men through
which they may be informed of their
rights to permanent Government In
surance, and in this campaign have
been enlisted the American Red
Cross, the Y. M. c. A., the Knights
of Columbus, the Salvation Army,
the Y. M. H. A., the Boil Scouts, and
numerous other National social well
fare organizations. In addition more
than $4,000 life insurance agents have
been enlisted. The volunteer roll
further includes thousands of bank
ers, doctors, lawyers, manufacturers,
other business men and representa-
tive of all associations which come in
contact with discharged service men
and their dependents.
The former service man who lives
on the farm will be reached to a
large extent through the banks which
have volunteered to serve as clearing
houses for information on War Risk
Insurance.
Ten features which prominently
stand out in the government policy
are as follows:
1. The total permanent disabil-
ity clause is granted without cost to
the insured and it is free from all re-
strictions.
2. Government insurance does
not charge its policy holders any over
head expense.
8. 1t contains an extremely lib
eral definition of disability.
4. 1t gives very substantial pay
ments.
5. It contains no age re-
strictions.
6. 1t is unrestricted as to travel,
residence or occupation.
z. Premiums paid in advance are
refunded down to the month, in case
of death.
8. The pilicy is non-taxable.
8. Unusually liberal cash, loan,
paid up insurance and extended term
insurance values are included.
10. 1t participates in dividends.
If the policy holder is unable to
keep the full amount of the War Risk
Insurance he carried while in the
service, he may reinstate part of it
from 81 900 up to $4,000 in multi