Annals, Anecdotes and Legends: A Chronicle of Life AssuranceFrancis, John, of the Bank of England
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Annals, Anecdotes and Legends: A Chronicle of Life Assurance
Francis, John, of the Bank of England
Life insurance
There are hundreds of thousands who cannot afford to be run over;
to whom a lingering illness would be misery; and whose death would
scatter or starve their families. A serious or severe accident would
probably deprive a clerk of his situation, and a small tradesman of his
business, leaving them with no home but the hospital, and no hope but
the grave. The statistics of general accidents are difficult to arrive
at, but a small annual premium would be an ample safeguard against
such a casualty. There is one point in which both this and the Railway
Assurance Company are wanting, and yet it would be scarcely possible
to amend the error. There is in neither of them any inquiry as to the
health of the party assuring. Now it is obvious that the very life of
a confirmed invalid would be shaken out of him where a strong and hale
man would receive no injury.
LAW PROPERTY ASSURANCE AND TRUST SOCIETY.
Of a somewhat similar character to the Rent Guarantee is the above;
and this is another admirable idea if it can be carried out. Defective
titles, being assured, are rendered absolute and perfect by it. The
actual repayment of loans and mortgages is guaranteed, while copyholds,
lifeholds, and leaseholds are made equal to freeholds for all purposes
of sale or mortgage.
THE INDISPUTABLE LIFE COMPANY.
There is a principle involved in the title of this Society which
is much too important to be briefly dismissed. The eagerness with
which all companies claim indisputability for their policies, is
a significant sign of public feeling on the subject. But the term
indisputable at present means nothing. To be effectual, it should be
absolute; and it is doubtful whether it would not benefit the whole
of the offices to adopt indisputability as their motto. There is
great evil, and there is often great wrong, in a disputed claim; but
it seems sometimes a necessity. Where there is conspiracy, fraud, or
concealment, it is manifestly unjust to pay a policy; but it costs
far more to resist it: and it is a point worthy mature consideration
whether an insurance so effected should not be treated as a fraud,
and punished criminally. It might be taken as a rule, that where the
policy is in the possession of any one who has assisted in the fraud,
it should not be paid; but when it has fairly passed into the hands of
a third party, such a course might be honourably avoided. It has been
said by its opponents, that at present there is no company which issues
policies really indisputable; that which is so called, being only
indisputable according as the conditions on the face of the policy are
maintained, and that their title is open to dispute.
There is, however, one merit due to this company. It has opened
a most important question, and one that will eventually lead to
indisputability in its most extended form. It will also render other
offices more cautious in entering a court of justice, and it can never
hope to enter itself with success.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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