Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-09-30
TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
BUREAU OF WAR RISK
INSURANCE

The farms OF the country contribute
ed about one-fourth of the man power
of the forces of the United States en-
gagged 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.
total of 4,539,048 men took out
War Risk Insurance, their aggregate
policies totaling nearly $4,000, 900,
and each policy averaging $500. OF
this total insurance, service men from
the farming districts carried approx
mately s10,420, 900, 900, and by far the
greater percentage of this insurance
was made payable to wives, mothers,
fathers and other relatives who reside
on farms.
The average of men who fell in ac-
ton, died of wounds or from other
causes during the war, was % years,
and because of their youth, by far the
greater percentage were unmarried
men. Which explains why AZ per cent
of the policies taken out named moth
ers as beneficiaries, 16 per cent named
fathers and only 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 Govern
ment Insurance. To avail themselves
Of the opportunity to convert their
War Risk Insurance into permanent
United States Government Insurance
it is necessary that the men discharged
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 keep up their insurance.
This is largely due to the fact that
the men were unfamiliar with the pro-
visions 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 be-
cause of this condition the Secretary
of the Treasury recently issued a rul-
ing allowing every man eighteen
months in which he has the oppor-
tunity to reinstate his insurance after
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 examina-
ton, 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 Column
bus, the Salvation Army, the Y M. H.
A, the Boy Scouts, and numerous
other National social welfare organic
ations. In addition more than $4,000
life insurance agents have been en-
listed. The volunteer roll further in
cludes thousands of bankers, doctors,
lawyers, manufacturers, other BUSH
ness men and representatives 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
large extent through banks which
have volunteered to serve as clearing
houses for information on War Risk
Insurance
There are six permanent forms Of
government insurance, as follows:
1. 20 Year Endowment.
2. 30 Year Endowment.
3. 20 Payment Life
4. 30 Payment Life.
D. Endowment at Age 81.
6. Ordinary Life
Applications are being received by
the Bureau of War Risk Insurance for
changing the present term insurance.
which was issued at the time of en-
tering the service, into the permanent
forms.
Ten features which prominently
stald out IN the government policy
are as ofllows:
1. The total permanent disability
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.
3. 1t contains an extremely liberal
definition of disability.
4. 1t gives very substantial pay
ments.
.. 1t contains no age restrictions.
8. 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.
3. Unusually liberal cash. loan. paid
up insurance and extended term of in
suranee values are included.
10. 1t participates in dividends.
II 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 $1,000 up to $4,000 in multiples
of $500. Reductions may be made in
multiples of $500 to any amou ut, but
not less than $1,000. Premiums are
due on the first of the month, al
though payments may be made during
the calendar month.