In the main, however, the process of absorption went forward
steadily and without serious incident.
One factor making for satisfactory adjustment was the insurance system
put into effect by the United States Government, affecting its war
forces. Immediately following the armistice, the following announcement
was made:
Preparations by the government for re-insuring the lives of soldiers and
sailors on their return have been hastened by the signing of the
armistice. Although regulations have not yet been fully drafted, it is
certain that each of the 4,250,000 men in the military or naval service
now holding voluntary government insurance will be permitted within five
years after peace is declared to convert it without further medical
examination into ordinary life, twenty-pay life, endowment maturing at
the age of sixty-two, or other prescribed forms of insurance.
This insurance will be arranged by the government, not by private
companies, and the cost is expected to be at least one-fourth less than
similar forms offered by private agencies. The low cost will result from
the fact that the government will pay all overhead administration
expenses, which, for private companies, amount to about seventeen per
cent of premium receipts; will save the usual solicitation fees and, in
addition, bear the risk resulting from the wounding or weakening of men
while in the service.
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