(j) Social security and health.

Our Social Security System has just celebrated its tenth anniversary.  During the past decade this program has supported the welfare and morale of a large part of our people by removing some of the hazards and hardships of the aged, the unemployed, and widows and dependent children.

But, looking back over 10 years’ experience and ahead to the future, we cannot fail to see defects and serious inadequacies in our system as it now exists.  Benefits are in many cases inadequate; a great many persons are excluded from coverage; and provision has not been made for social insurance to cover the cost of medical care and the earnings lost by the sick and the disabled.

In the field of old-age security, there seems to be no adequate reason for excluding such groups as the self-employed, agricultural and domestic workers, and employees of nonprofit organizations.  Since many of these groups earn wages too low to permit significant savings for old age, they are in special need of the assured income that can be provided by old-age insurance.

We must take urgent measures for the readjustment period ahead.  The Congress for some time has been considering legislation designed to supplement at Federal expense, during the immediate reconversion period, compensation payments to the unemployed.  Again I urge the Congress to enact legislation liberalizing unemployment compensation benefits and extending the coverage.  Providing for the sustained consumption by the unemployed persons and their families is more than a welfare policy; it is sound economic policy.  A sustained high level of consumer purchases is a basic ingredient of a prosperous economy.

During the war, nearly 5 million men were rejected for military service because of physical or mental defects which in many cases might have been prevented or corrected.  This is shocking evidence that large sections of the population are at substandard levels of health.  The need for a program that will give everyone opportunity for medical care is obvious.  Nor can there be any serious doubt of the Government’s responsibility for helping in this human and social problem.

The comprehensive health program which I recommended on November 19, 1945, will require substantial additions to the Social Security System and, in conjunction with other changes that need to be made, will require further consideration of the financial basis for social security.  The system of prepaid medical care which I have recommended is expected eventually to require amounts equivalent to 4 percent of earnings up to $3,600 a year, which is about the average of present expenditures by individuals for medical care.  The pooling of medical costs, under a plan which permits each individual to make a free choice of doctor and hospital, would assure that individuals receive adequate treatment and hospitalization when they are faced with emergencies for which they cannot budget individually.  In addition, I recommended insurance benefits to replace part of the earnings lost through temporary sickness and permanent disability.