APPENDIX A. 
388 
—— 
9. Tt will be seen that we have related the charges arising under the 
new proposals to the expected number of claims for maternity benefit. 
We understand, however, that charges in respect of certain of the items 
of medical service would arise in cases of miscarriage, particularly where 
there is no present liability to provide medical benefit. We have made 
enquiries as to the probable weight of these charges, and are advised 
that relatively to the total number of cases they are likely to be few 
in number and are expected to involve a very small addition to the 
total cost. We deem it unnecessary, therefore, to make specific provision 
for this factor, regard being had to the small margins which are likely 
to arise in respect of other elements in the cost of the scheme. 
10. While we have found ourselves able to supply a reasonably close 
estimate of the cost of the proposed new services on the aggregate 
resources of the Approved Societies, we have become impressed in the 
course of our work by the fact that difficult administrative problems 
are involved in the scheme and that the methods adopted for the solution 
of these must to some extent affect its financial incidence. We have 
shown that as between different types of cases, e.g., where the husband 
of an insured woman is himself insured or is not insured, there are 
considerable differences in the liabilities respectively falling upon 
particular societies. There are, however, no records in the system of 
National Health Insurance with reference to the insurable status of 
spouses, and it is not easy to see how in these circumstances the total 
charges can be distributed equitably between the different societies. 
Whether the distribution should be effected on some approximate basis, 
or whether an exact distribution should be attempted seems to involve 
the question whether widespread enquiries as to the insured status of 
wives and hushands of insured persons could be undertaken with the 
hope of success and without prohibitive cost. We cannot ourselves 
pursue this point further, but submit it to the Royal Commission as one 
which would have to be dealt with if the projected extension of services 
were undertaken. 
11. One other point in connection with this reference remains to be 
mentioned. It has been assumed that an insured married woman is to 
bo entitled to medical benefit throughout the period of pregnancy. In 
fact, the woman in “Class K ” is entitled to maternity benefit on her 
frst confinement after marriage if it occurs within two years of the 
date of marriage, while her title to medical benefit runs to a particular 
30th June or 3lst December, as dictated by the date on which she 
ceased to be employed, and may therefore cease in some cases before her 
confinement. We understand it to be intended that the new services 
would be available for all women at present entitled to maternity benefit 
while in ¢ Class K »’; it would, therefore, seem that the provisions of 
the Act as to medical benefit in these cases should be examined. 
We are, My Lord, 
Your obedient Servants, 
ArrrEp W. Warsox (Chairman). 
A. D. BusanT. 
Louis E. CrINTON. 
ArrrED HENRY. 
R. G. MAUDLING. 
M. B. Kxowres (Secretary). 
18th December, 1925.