A Young Man's Benefit: The Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Sickness Insurance in the United States and Canada, 1860-1929 (Volume 7) ... the History of Medicine, Health, and Society)

Using cliometric methods and records from six grand-lodge archives, A Young Man's Benefit rejects the conventional wisdom about friendly societies and sickness insurance, arguing that IOOF lodges were financially sound institutions, were more efficient than commercial insurers, and met a market demand headed by young men who lacked alternatives to market insurance, not older men who had an above-average risk of sickness disability. Emery and Emery show that many young men joined the Odd Fellows for sickness insurance and quit the society once self-insurance - savings - or family insurance - secondary incomes from older children - made it feasible for them. The older men, who valued the social benefits of membership and did not need the sick benefit, gradually became a majority and dismantled the IOOF's insurance provisions. Using Cliometric Methods And Records From Six Grand-lodge Archives, A Young Man's Benefit Rejects The Conventional Wisdom About Friendly Societies And Sickness Insurance, Arguing That 100f Lodges Were Financially Sound Institutions, Were More Efficient Than Commercial Insurers, And Met A Market Demand Headed By Young Men Who Lacked Alternatives To Market Insurance, Not Older Men Who Had Above Average Risk Of Sickness Disability. George Emery And Herbert Emery Show That Many Young Men Joined The Odd Fellows For Sickness Insurance And Quit The Society Once Self-insurance - Savings - Or Family Insurancesecondary Incomes From Older Children - Became Feasible For Them. The Older Men Who Valued The Social Benefits Of Membership And Did Not Need The Sick Benefit Gradually Became A Majority And Dismantled The Ioof's Insurance Provisions.--book Jacket. George Emery And J.c. Herbert Emery. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [170]-180) And Index.