Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/791

 INSURANCE A GAINST NON-EMPLOYMENT 77$

right to benefits. In the Swiss cases the insured must have paid premiums for six months, in Cologne for eight months. In the latter case there are requirements for inspection and cancellation of stamps used in the payment of dues. In the American plan the applicant for insurance must have had regular employment for the previous six months. Insurance in anticipation of impend- ing discharge is a similar bar to receipt of benefits.

The terms upon which the insurance is granted are of course much easier in European cases, where the government, private charity, or the employers contribute ; in some cases all three, in all cases at least two of these. The American system must be self-supporting and in the long run prove profitable to the pro- moters. In this association, there is an initiation fee of $3, evi- dently to cover soliciting and incidental expenses. In Europe there is no initiation fee ; but in Cologne payment of premiums for eight months and in Switzerland for six months is a pre- requisite to participation. In all the European systems benefits begin to accrue only after from five to seven days' idleness. In the American case they begin immediately, one day's sickness entitling the insured to a proportionate benefit.

The size of the premium depends upon the amount of benefits given and upon the proportion of the support furnished by sources other than the premiums paid by the insured. From both reasons the premiums of the commercial enterprise are higher than those of the others. The commercial enterprise calls for a monthly payment of $1 by each insured on the basis of a monthly salary of 30 or less, and from those insured on a basis of a salary in excess of that sum an additional amount each month equal to I per cent, on the excess. The indemnity is proportioned to the premiums. While out of employment the beneficiary receives one-half of the amount taken a* the basis of the monthly salary upon which the policy was issued, for a period of not more than four months out of each twelve, begin- ning with the date of his certificate of enrollment. Mention of the other benefits is postponed. In the Cologne Association, insured workmen pay a weekly premium of twenty-five pfennigs (about