asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will state separately as regards the National Health Insurance Fund in respect of each of the three years preceding the commencement of the Health Act, 1953, (a) the contribution income (from employers and employees), (b) the number of National Health Insurance stamps sold, (c) the annual cost of hospital and medical charges (of all classes) paid out of the Fund on behalf of insured persons, and (d) the estimated weekly contribution (in pence) equivalent to the hospital and medical cost element in each insurance stamp.
Written Answers. - National Health Insurance Fund.
The required information, in so far as it is available, is as follows:—
|
Calendar Year |
|||
|
1951 |
1952 |
1953 |
|
|
(a) Contribution income (from employers and employees) of the N.H.I. Fund |
£1,309,625 |
£1,400,968 |
Not available. |
|
(b) Number of N.H.I. stamps sold |
26,077,000 |
26,928,000 |
See Note 1. |
|
(c) Cost of hospital and medical charges paid out of the N.H.I. Fund, or the Social Insurance Fund, on behalf of insured persons (See Note 2) |
£266,980 |
£315,880 |
£388,440 |
(d) The estimated weekly contribution (in pence) equivalent to the hospital and medical cost element in each insurance stamp cannot be stated as the National Health Insurance stamp contained no element in respect of the cost of hospital and medical charges. The cost of these charges was met from the actuarial surplus of the National Health Insurance scheme up to termination of that scheme on the 4th January, 1953, and for the year 1953 was met by the Exchequer.
NOTES.
1. The National Health Insurance Fund ceased in January, 1953, on the merger of that Fund, the Unemployment Fund and the Widows' and Orphans' Pensions Fund in the Social Insurance Fund established under the Social Welfare Act, 1952. Unified social insurance contributions became payable under that Act and it is not possible to relate the contribution income of the Social Insurance Fund, or the stamps sold, to any particular insurance benefit.
2. The amounts given at (c) represent expenditure on Hospital and Convalescent Home benefit, Medical and Surgical Appliances benefit, and Specialist Medical and Specialist Surgical benefit.