Gunnison news-champion., 1919-10-10
Treasury Department,

Of the forces Of the United States en-
gagged in the war.
Il Is estimated that 200 900 men,
who served IN the army. the naVy and
the marine corps were born and rear
81 on Al r.ca1 farms.
A total cf s-53g,Oss men took out
war risk Iur4Tance, their aggregate
policies tOtaIlIug nearly 10000 900.
and each policy averaging $500. of
this total insurance. service men from
the farming districts ca rr1ef aTproEi-
maieIy ElO4Z0 900 600 and by "a the
greater percentage was made payable
20 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 %
year,. and because Of their youth, by
far the greater percentage were un-
married men which explains why 81
percentage Of the policies taken out
named mothers as beneficiaries. Is per
cent named fathers and only per
cut named wives
In the original War Risk Act, proyi-
sion was made for the policies written
on service men during the war 10 be
continued as permanent Government
Insurance. To avail themselves of
the opportunity to convert their war
risk Insurance into permanent United
States Government Insurance, II is
necessary that the men discharged
from service continue 20 pay their
monthly premiums, and at some time
during the five years following the
formal declaration of peace that they
convert into 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
10 the fact that the men were unfami-
lar with the provisions of the Act. or
that they had not felt financially able
TO carry their insurance at this time.
To guard against any man losing
his right to Government Insurance be
cause Of this condition, the Secretary
Of the Treasury recently issued rul-
ing allowing every man eighteen
months in which he has the opportu-
nifty to reinstate his insurance after
ne has allowed il TO lapse because Of
non-payment Of premiums.
This reinstatement privilege should
be clearly understood. So long as
man is not paying his premiums, he is'
not insured. His reinstatement privi-
legc merely gives him the right to
again have Government Insurance
without undergoing physical examina-
tion and upon the payment of two
months premiums.
A nationwide campaign has been
inaugurated for dirvct personal con-
tact with former service men through
which they may be informed of their
Z rights to permanent Government In
surance, and in this campaign have
enlisted the American Red Cross, the
i Y. NJ. c. A., the Knights of Columbus.
the Salvation Army, the Y. NJ. II. A,
the Boy Scouts, and numerous other
national social welfare organizations.
In addition, more than so 900 life in
surance agents have been enlisted.
/ The volunteer roll further includes
thousands of bankers, lawyers, doc
tors, manufacturers, other business
men and representatives of all asso-
Citations which come in contact with
! discharged service men and their de
| pendents.
/ The former service men who live On
/ the farm will be reached to a large
extent through banks. which have
volunteered to serve as clearing
houses for information on War Risk
J Insurance.
There are six forms of permanent
Government Insurance. as follows:
l. 20-fear Endowment.
2. 30-lear Endowment.
}. 20-iear Payment Life.
!. 30-fear Payment Life.
! .. Endowment at age of 65.
Il n
Applications are being received by
the Bureau of War Risk Insurance
changing the present term insurance,
which was issued at the time of enter
ing the service into the permanent
forms.
/ Ten features which prominently
stand out IN the government policy are
as follows:
l. The total disability clause is
/ granted without cost to the insured
and it is free from all restrictions.
! 2. Government Insurance does not
charge its policy holders any overhead
expense.
3. 1t contains an extremely liberal
definition of disability.
4. 1t gives very substantial pay-
ments.
8. 1t contains no age restrictions.
F, 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 policy is non-taxable.
Q. Unusually liberal cash, loan,
paid up insurance and extended term
insurance values are included.
10. Ii participates in diyidendS
If the policy holder is unable to
keep the full amount of the War Risk
Insurance he carried while in the ser
vice, he may reinstate part of it from
$1,000 up to $4,000 in multiplis of
$500. Reductions may be made in
multiplies of $500 to any amount, but
not less than $1,000. Premiums are
due on the first of the month. altho
payments may. be made during the
calendar month.