asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if Miss Arabella Mary Ivy Standing (Card No. 69117) who has been ill since 4th February will receive payment of National Health Insurance benefit for her hospital expenses, also what the payment of 5/- received on the 21st March was intended to discharge; if he will state when a further payment will be received and to what rate of benefit is Miss Standing entitled.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Health Insurance Claim.
Miss Standing submitted a claim for sickness benefit to Cumann an Archais Náisiúnta ar Shláinte on 14th February, 1936, in respect of incapacity for work as from the 12th idem. Benefits payable during the benefit year commencing the 6th January, 1936, are governed by the contributions paid during the contribution year ended 7th July, 1935. Miss Standing had no contributions to credit for that year up to the date of her claim, when she surrendered her card for the first half-year of 1935. Her 2/34 period card is still outstanding, and, whilst she states that it was sent to the Society in January, 1935, there is no record of its receipt by the Society and the insured person has not produced evidence of its surrender. Owing to the absence of the 2/34 card and the late surrender of the 1/35 period card, Miss Standing was, in accordance with the Arrears Regulations, 1921, suspended from all benefits for a period of four weeks from the date of surrender, i.e., until the 13th March, 1936. At that date she became entitled to benefit at the rate of 5/- per week only, owing to the operation of an Arrears Penalty of 7/-, which reduces full sickness benefit (12/-) by a like amount. The payment of 5/- received by Miss Standing on the 21st instant represents one week's benefit for the period 13th-19th March, inclusive, and a further payment of 5/10 covering the period from 20th-27th March issued on the 28th instant. Hospital benefit is not a statutory benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts, but an additional benefit provided by certain of the former Approved Societies who, on valuation, were found to have a disposable surplus. Miss Standing was a member of the former Prudential Health Insurance Society, and, as that Society did not provide any additional benefits, she is not entitled to hospital benefit from Cumann an Arachais Náisiúnta ar Shláinte.
Miss Standing had the cost of stamps deducted from her wages for the last four years. She does not know what became of these stamps but, apparently, the cards were stamped.