HEALTH INSURANCE

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 14, 23 March 1938, Page 1

HEALTH INSURANCE

AUSTRALIAN PLAN REPORT AS BASIS SCALE OF BENEFITS The trend of discussion, in the Federal Cabinet recently indicated that the Ministry is likely to adopt the scale of contributions proposed by Sir Walter Kinnear, the British expert on national health insurance. It is suggested that the Ministry" cou/.elis*plates the adoption of benefits similar to those proposed in the- report. The contributions proposed Walter Kinnear are: 1/6, a week from employee. and employer for insured liieii; 1/- a week from each for insured women. In addition, the: Commonwealth would make an annual’ grant ranging from £1,000,0130 a year to £10,000,000 a year, at which figure .it will be stabilised at the end of 18 years. The main benefits that- have been' proposed are: —A pension of £1 a week for insured men at the age of Go, and 15/ a week for insured women at CO. Sickness benefit of £1 for 'men and 150 for women. Disablement benefit of 15/ -for men and! I*2/6 for women. Benefits for Dependents! Sickness and disablement- benefit are likely, to be extended to dependents., Medical benefits will be provided, but the .Ministry is unlikely to agree to their being shared by dependents. 'The scope for these benefits, however, lias .not been decided.. They will be the subject of discussion-between the Treasurer, Mr Casey, the British Medical Association, and the friendly societies at the forthcoming conferences. The Ministry may suggest- to the friendly..societies that- they should continue to provide dependents’ benefits.

They would be able to do so at greatly reduced rates after they had been relieved of obligations to persons: who would come within the scope, of the insurance scheme. It is now practically certain that the undertaking will he administered by a board of three, of whom the recently appointed acting-director. Professor Brigden. will be chairman. Mr H. C. Green, formerly assistant statistician. will be the second member. The third ha« yet to he selected. He may not be appointed until the bill has been passed.

As the Ministry will retain the services of Sir Walter Kinnear in the initial stages of the scheme, lie may he appointed temporarily third member. During the Cabinet discussion today the secretary of the Treasury, Sir Harry: Sheehan, Sir Walter Kinnear, and Mr C. Lindsay, another British expert, were present .They will continue tlicir consultations with Ministers for the rest of the week.