The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1964, Page 32

30
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
Winter 1964
resident in the country, this benefit
replacing ordinary family allowances.
General supervision of this phase of
the country’s social security system is
in the hands of the Minister of Social
Affairs. The program is administered
by the State Social Security Institution
through local offices, being managed
by a board elected by parliament and
a director. Contributions are collected
by revenue agencies.
Must Join “Sick Club”
For the purpose of health insurance
all residents of Iceland are required
to become members of a sick club.
The fund from which benefits are
paid is somewhat unusual inasmuch as
the employer makes no contribution
to it. The insured person pays from
120 to 540 crowns a year, and in ad-
dition about 10 per cent of the con-
tributions of the insured person under
pension insurance is transfered to this
program. The national government
and communes pay subsidies to sickness
clubs equal to about 66 per cent of the
contributions of the insured persons.
Cash sickness benefits amount to
from 21.95 to 27 crowns a day, or 27.45
to 32.95 crowns for a couple, plus a
supplement of 5.50 to 6.40 crowns for
each child. Amounts change auto-
matically with cost-of-living changes.
There is a waiting period of 13 days
and permanent employees receive
wages from their employers during this
period. For the self-employed, where
business is not dependent on their
work, the waiting period is five weeks.
The duration of the benefit is 26
weeks. The insurance does not pay a
funeral benefit.
Medical health insurance benefits
consist of general practitioner and
specialist care, hospitalization, full
cost of vital medicines and 50 to 75
per cent of the cost of other essential
medicines. These services are provided
by the doctors under contract with the
sick clubs.
Maternity benefits in Iceland consist
of a lump sum of 1,647 crowns. In
ordinary cases there is no medical
benefit. Dependents of insured receive
the same medical benefits and matern-
ity grant as for the insured.
To secure the cash sickness benefit
the insured must be an employed or
self-employed worker. A married wo-
Both the tuberculosis clinic, above, and
the well-baby clinic, below, are under-
staffed. Most new doctors work abroad.