HEALTH INSURANCE TRIED BY SWISS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3356, 24 October 1911, Page 2

HEALTH INSURANCE TRIED BY SWISS.

SYSTEM WHICH WILL APPLY TO THE ENTIRE REPUBLIC SOON IN OPERATION.

Backed by Parliament and public opinion, the Swiss measure for establishing a system of insurance against sickness and accidents goes into la v next Tuesday. Thus the Swiss have beati-u the British in this year’s social legislation race.

It will apply to the entire country, but the cantons may make it optional or obligatory as they think fit. The federal government aims not at making the plan a hard and fast one on i ll Icealitiee, but at encouraging: the system of insurance in the cantons in proportion as the people show a desire lor it. Etch canton will have power to turn existing friendly society funds into state .nurance funds under the law, and also to compel employers to he responsible for the contributions of their insured employees. In aid of these contrib uions there will be. a Government grant, and tho system is to bo open to all, v. trout distinction of party or creed. When any one who is thus insured is taken ill lie can either take free nu c.ical attendance or sick pay. The a J tendance may begin on the third day of sickness and last for 180 days in the \o< r r. No special doctors are to he named. The sick people will be able to choose any medical man practising in the distinct, except when it is necessary for them to go to a hospital. Failing an arrangement with the doctors, sick pay may be made on the basis of the average cost of medical treatment for the district.

The federal government will pay every year to the insurance funds 69 cents for each child under 14, the same for every man, and 79 cents for every woman, in cases where sick benefit pay as an alternative to medical attendance is granted. In cases where both attendance and a money allowance are granted, the Government pays 1 dollar per member, with an additional 10 cents when the allowances are arranged to cover at least 360 out of 540 consecutive days. For each confinement the Government contribution will be 4 dollars, doubled if there is no artificial feeding. The limit of the claim on the Government in any one year is half the contributions paid to the fund in premiums or donations.