Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-24
BEGS SERVICE men
TOSAVE INSURANCE
War Risk Wants Lapsed Poll
cieS Revived Before
December 81.

Under a ruling of the Secretary OF
the Treasury affecting reinstateme Mt
of government insurance which for
mer service men have allowed to
lapse such reinstatement will be more
difficult after December 81, and spe-
cial efforts have been made by repre-
sentatives of the bureau of war risk
insurance in the several states to in
-duce as many as possible to reinstate
their policies before that date.
Policies that have 1apsed for nom
payment of premiums prior to July
last, but have not been inactive
more than eighteen months, may now
be reinstated without medical exam
nation on the payment of two months
premium. But after December 81 a
full medical examination will be nee
esSary for reinstatement, outside of
lew exceptions noted in the Secre-
tary's ruling.
100000 Policies Reinstated.
To date there have been more than
loo, 900 policies reinStated by men who
allowed their government insurance to
IapSee and later decided to revive it.
fiscal year was 92.231. calling for to-
tai insurance of $65S.671,0 900. The
number of men who are taking up
their policies shows steady increase
during the last twelve months, many
such reinstatementS being made by
former service men who married and
decided to hold on to their insurance
for the protection Of their families.
With the idea of reaching more men
who might retain their government
insurance if properly informed as to
its terms, as well as with the aim of
giving quicker service to those now
carrying insurance and those entitled
10 disability compensation, Col. r. G.
Cholmeley-Jones. director of the war
risk bureau, has asked Congress to
approve the plan for establishing
fourteen regional offices in various
parts of the country. each of which
could handle all but the most Inn
portant matters that affect the service
man as to insurance and compensa-
ton.
Personal Contact Best.
There has been found no method of
contact 50 effective as that which can
be obtained through closer and
more personal relationship" reads the
report of the director. This cannot
be satisfactorily obtained by direct
ing long-distance communicationS|
from Washington. Other govern
mental institutions, including those
dealing with service and ex-service
men, have resorted to this method of
giving effect to the purpose of the
statutes under which they are operat-
ing, and the same procedure is clearly
warranted in the case OF the bureau
Of war risk insurance.
1T may be here cited that there |
were sent from the bureau millions
OF communications of various kinds
during the past fiscal year, many OF I
which would have better accomplish
ed their purpose if the person con-
cerned were able to call or telephone
personally"
One thing that has greatly compIi- |
Gated the work of the bureau in deal |
ing with the ex-service man is his |
without notifying the government or l
his change of address. Nearly 80 per |
cent of the circulars sent to former |
service men and women about in |
surance offered them by the govern !
ment have been returned as un-
claimed.
Seeks Funds to Advertise.
To meet this situation Col Cholme-
ley-Jones has made another recom-
rhendation. which is that the war
risk bureau be allowed to spend a
reasonable amount for advertising in
newspapers, magazines. etc 1t is par
ticularIy his desire to be able to ad-
vertise the government insurance to |
a limited extent in foreign language |
papers, for large number OF men
who stand most in need of such bene- |
fits cannot be reached in any other |
way. Such advertisements. also, would |
tell of the compensation offered by |
the government for total or partial |
disability and how to make applica- |
ton for it.
"a clear obligation is imposed upon |
the government to apprise every ex- |
service man or woman as to his or |
her rights under the legislation |
passed by Congress-" says the request |
of Col Cho1meley-Jones, especially /
since it is a service offered by a |
grateful government to those Of its |
men and women who served in the |
military and naval service during the |
great world conflict, many Of whom |
suffered physical injury or disease"