More Facts and Fallacies of Compulsory Health Insurance (Volume 2) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1920. Excerpt: ... NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE IN GREAT BRITAIN, 1911-1919 On account of the war, the experience under the British health insurance acts has naturally been rather inconclusive. For reasons of a thoroughly false economy the publication of annual reports on the operation of the health insurance act was discontinued, but a consolidated report has recently been issued for the period 1914-17, which though quite elaborate in matters of more or less unimportant office routine leaves practically every vital question involved unanswered. From a variety of sources, however, it is not difficult to arrive at reasonably definite conclusions on all of the essential matters more or less in controversy in this country at the present time. The general impression left on the mind of the impartial reader of the report is that the main efforts of the commissions are concentrated on matters of office administration, typical of a vast governmental machinery, largely unnecessary for the end in view. There is nothing to indicate that the main purpose involved in the health insurance act, namely, the more effective medical treatment of British wage-earners, is successfully attained at reasonable cost. There is no consolidated statement of the number of persons concerned or affected by the act, nor of the total cost, both as to administration and benefits rendered. It is self-evident, however, that a vast amount of confusion of ends and means has resulted from the introduction of the insurance feature, totally unrelated to the question of medical treatment and pecuniary support during illness of more or less prolonged duration. No analysis is made of the actual experience which has been had, such, for illustration, as is clearly set forth, but with the required brevity, in the treatise...