England Twentieth Century Insurance Developments (National Institute)

20th Century Insurance Developments
The 20th century has seen both government schemes for provision of health care and pensions for disabilities, illness and old age, as well as an expansion of private insurance firms catering to all manner of risks. New areas are of-course vehicle, home, aviation and travel insurance, and a growth in private health and pension provisions.

Health Insurance
Under the National Insurance Act of 1911 the large friendly societies, along with other major sickness benefits providers, were designated as Approved Societies. These Orders thus had both state and voluntary members. At this time the smaller local societies either chose to become part of a larger Order, or ceased to exist. In 1948 the welfare state was introduced and friendly societies removed from health care provision. The major orders continued on a voluntary basis offering opportunities for self-improvement and service to the community.

Pensions
The British term OAP (Old Age Pensioner) originated with the 1908 Old Age Pension Act which allowed five shillings a week to those over 70 starting 1 Jan 1909. Michael Armstrong (Life on the Breadline. Practical Family History #27 page 43, 2000) gives details of the Daily Mail’s test case on basic expenses for pensioners at this time.

This pension was non-contributory and given to all British subjects and naturalized aliens of 20 years’ residence except:


 * Criminals whilst they were in prison and for 10 years thereafter.
 * Single people already receiving 10/- or more per week from other sources.
 * Couples whose income was 15/- or more.
 * Lunatics.
 * Anyone in receipt of poor relief (indoor or outdoor) disqualifying them from voting.
 * Habitual idlers and work shirkers—those who had become indigent by their own wilful misbehaviour.
 * Courts could also disqualify anyone convicted of an offence from receiving a pension for 10 years.

An OAP was also referred to assuperannuated man which was defined as doting, decrepit, time-worn, disqualified and unfit for service! Later on the retirement ages were dropped to 65 for men and 60 for women, and the belittling tagold age pension was changed to state pension in 1946.

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