TABLE D-8.-Economic impact Yes answers (percent of total replies 1) To help pay for the cost of this illness, did you draw on any savings that Did any member of your immediate family, who was not working before 1.9 16. 2 15. 0 3.9 2.5 1 Percentages are not additive; some replied "Yes" to more than one question. TABLE E-1a.-Establishments having group plans and number and type of plan TABLE E-1b.-Group plans in establishments, percent financed by employer and TABLE E-1c.-Carriers of group plans in establishments 1013 11 1163 TABLE E-1d. Occupational groups covered, by group plans in establishments Hospitaliza- Estab Estab Estab Estab Estab lish- Plans lish- Plans lish- Plans lish- Plans lish- Plans ments ments ments ments ments TABLE E-1e.-Benefit provisions of hospitalization and surgical plans 1 Extended illness provisions: Daily rate of $5 for 260 days provided by employee benefit association in addition to regular hospitalization plan. One Blue Cross plan provides a semiprivate room and ancillary charges for 120 days plus 75 percent of charges for additional 120 days. (1) Comprehensive Blue Cross plans and 1 of the commercial insurance policies provide full cost of semiprivate room; standard Blue Cross policies require payment of daily fee, usually $1.50, and cover balance of hospital charge for semiprivate room. (2) Some plans, especially Blue Cross, cover full charges for services (with certain exclusions; e. g., X-ray, plasma, transfusions). One Blue Shield service contract pays the total surgical charges for employees earning less than $5,000 annually. One comprehensive medical service plan provides all surgical services during an 8-month period for those earning less than $6,000 annually. Most of these plans provide for the maximum number of calls to cover hospital, office, and home calls combined. TABLE E-1g.-Benefit provisions of sickness-compensation and sick-leave plans1 221 of the sick-leave programs had definite provisions; the other 34 were on an indefinite basis. The percent of wages and the duration are determined on an individual basis for each absence. 31 plan provides 50 to 100 percent of wages for a maximum of 52 weeks. 1 plan provides 100 percent of wages for a maximum of 13 weeks. TABLE E-2.-Company medical facilities and program Personnel on staff of company medical department: Medical director: Number of establishments 1. General physical examinations are given applicants prior to employment1 35 2. General physical examinations are given personnel after they have been employed---- 3. Employees are given a physical examination upon their return to 1 Not answered by 18. Establishments who answered "Yes" to all 4 items, 22. Mr. BEAMER. If there is nothing further, the committee will adjourn until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. (Thereupon, at 12: 15 p. m., the committee adjourned until 10 o'clock the following morning, Wednesday, January 27, 1954.) HEALTH INQUIRY (VOLUNTARY HEALTH INSURANCE) WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1954 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, Washington, D. C. The committee met at 10 a. m. in room 1334, New House Office Building, pursuant to adjournment, Hon. Charles A. Wolverton (chairman) presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. Today we were to hear from a very distinguished American who had concluded a long, honorable, and heroic career in the United States Navy, during which time he played a major role in developing our country's atomic defenses. Four years ago, upon retiring from the Navy as commander in chief, United States Atlantic Fleet, this man had entered upon a new career of serving his country and his fellow citizens by devoting his energy to the improvement of the health of the Nation as president of the Health Information Foundation. The sudden and untimely death of Adm. W. H. P. Blandy a fortnight ago prevents us from having the benefit of his knowledge and keen insight. Here speaking in behalf of the Health Information Foundation is a man who was a great and close personal friend of the admiral, and in his own right an eminent authority on the Nation's health. He was vice chairman of the commission on financing of hospital care, which just recently published a most significant report, and is an active member of the citizens advisory committee of Health Information Foundation. It is with the greatest pleasure that I now introduce to you Adm. Lewis L. Strauss, who has consented to give us some time from his all-engrossing job as Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. The engagements that Admiral Strauss has at this time require him to be brief in his presentation, and he is limited in the time that he can be present with us. In connection with the organization for which he will speak I would like to have made as a part of the record a list of those who are the active participants in the work of this foundation. It is a list of some of the outstanding men of our country among whom is former President of the United States Herbert Hoover, whom we would have been glad to have had present this morning but other engagements prevented him from being here. I mention this for the reason that the recommendations and findings of this commission take on significance and importance as a result of the individuals who are directing its endeavors and who are of such a character and standing that the report which they have made cannot be ignored nor taken 39087-54-pt. 7-11 lightly, but must be given the full consideration that it is entitled to have, because of the experience, ability, standing and vision of those who have participated in its findings. Admiral Strauss, we will be glad to hear from you at this time. STATEMENT OF HON. LEWIS L. STRAUSS, CHAIRMAN, ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION, AND MEMBER OF THE CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HEALTH INFORMATION FOUNDATION Mr. STRAUSS. Thank you, Chairman Wolverton, and gentlemen. I am glad for two reasons for this opportunity to make a brief statement as you begin today's session, a session to hear facts about the medical expenses and the health protection of American families. The first reason is, as the chairman has stated, that I was for many years a close friend and associate of Admiral Blandy, who was the first presi-. dent of the foundation. I served under his as chief of staff during part of the war, and his sudden death 2 weeks ago was a shock and a great loss to me, to the service, and to a host of people. We all admired him profoundly as one of the great men among our Navy's heroes and leaders and as a man of high ideals and great personal integrity. I know that Admiral Blandy, as president of this foundation, had looked forward to making a statement before this committee. In the past 4 years he had given himself unselfishly full time to a second career, after 40 years of distinguished service to his country in the Navy during which he rose to be commander in chief of the Atlantic Fleet. His second career he viewed as a continuing contribution to his country. He felt that the Health Information Foundation could perform valuable services in helping to improve the voluntary health facilities and the services which are so essential to the welfare, happiness, and strength of our people. Admiral Blandy, therefore, would have taken great pride in speaking to you about the facts which are to be presented to you this morning, as those facts were revealed in a nationwide survey which the foundation has just completed. My second reason, which is a more personal one, is that as a member of the citizens advisory committee of the Health Information Foundation I have been impressed from the very beginning with the purposes and the practical comprehensive program of the foundation. I have had a long association and interest in the health field. I served on the board of Memorial Hospital in New York, which is our largest cancer hospital there, on the board of the Sloan-Kettering Institute, which is a research organization largely devoted to cancer research, and on the board of the Institute for Crippled and Disabled. whose work is indicated by its title. I was recently also vice chairman of the Commission on Financing of Hospital Care, which, as you have noted, Mr. Wolverton, has only within the last fortnight made its report to the American people. The Health Information Foundation, incidentally, was one of the principal contributors to the cost of the study made by the Commission on Financing of Hospital Care. Thus, familiarity with some of our health problems has made me recognize the significance of the projects dealing with the social and economic problems of health which the foundation has undertaken. |