Health Insurance Hazards Reflected in Occupational Health Loss Ratios

Health insurance has been universally unprofitable to the commercial accident and health companies and we should take advantage of every opportunity to study and analyze the factors which enter into the high loss ratios. The Committee of Five on Statistics of the Bureau of Personal Accident and Health Underwriters has published an exhaustive report on the combined health experience of 24 of the largest companies for the years of 1921, 1922 and 1923. The report is based upon sufficient data to give an excellent indication of actual conditions, and as the underwriting theory and practice and policy provisions of all companies are essentially the same we may safely use this report as a basis for an inquiry into the make-up of severe health losses.