NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1935, Page 4

NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE.

In view of the rumoured intention of the Government to institute a national health insurance system it was a fortunate coincidence that three medical experts from Great Britain should have visited New Zealand this week on their way .to the conference of the British Medical Association to be held at Melbourne. They are reported to have stated that the system is working well in England, and as it is evident that any such national undertaking must have the co-operation of the medical profession if it is to be successful, it is satisfactory to know that in Great Britain such co-operation has been attained. There all persons between the ages of 16 and 65 who'are employed within the meaning of the National' Health Insurance Acts, with certain specified exemptions, are required to be insured for both health insurance and contributory pensions, while provision is also made for voluntary contributors. The present rates of contributions are Is 6d per week for men, and Is Id for women, payable by the employer, who can deduct 9d per week from men’s wages and 6d from women’s for insurance purposes. The benefits include medical attention and treatment, sickness benefit—men 15s, unmarried women and widows 12s, and married women 10s weekly. Disablement benefits on a lower scale commence after sick pay has been given for 26 weeks, and a maternity allowance of £2 is also payable. Sick pay begins on the fourth day of incapacity, but no contributor is entitled to the sickness benefits until insured for 26 weeks and 26 weekly contributions have been paid. It is further provided that until insured for 104 weeks and 104 weekly contributions have been paid a person if incapacitated is entitled only to sick pay at reduced rates, and cannot claim disablement benefits. The system has been in operation for ten years, and the latest figures available, for the year 1933, show that 12,366,000 men and 6,115,000 women were entitled to benefits, the contributions for that year totalling £25,750,000. It is evident, therefore, that health insurance has become as integral a part of the industrial life of Great Britain as insurance against employer’s liability has become in the Dominion. By means of health insurance medical advice and treatment can be obtained before disease has gone beyond the incipient stages, thereby increasing the chances of recovery, while the sick pay, although very low according to Dominion standards of wages, at least relieves a ijvage-earner of some of his anxieties at times of incapacity. There seems everything in favour of some such system being inaugurated in New Zealand, ‘