| Most Americans today have some
insurance against long-term illness or injury, or the death of the family
wage-earner. Nearly all who work, including the self-employed, are covered by
retirement programs. Four out of five employees now have access to unemployment
benefits. The Social Security law, which covers more than 90 percent of the work force, provides a national system of payments in old age and disability benefits. Over the years the law has been broadened' to give greater protection in all categories. The Social Security system is financed through a tax paid by workers and their employers during the years of employment. Self-employed persons, who also pay into the system, are covered as well. When workers retire at age 65, they receive monthly payments on a scale to their previous earnings; reduced benefits am paid to those retiring at ages 62 through 64. Benefits are also paid to nonworking widows and widowers, to children under 18 and to dependent parents. More than 35 million people currently receive these monthly payments. Unemployment insurance is financed through a payroll(工资单) tax paid by the employer. The federal government provides money to the states to cover the cost of operating this program; the states determine the conditions under which benefits are paid. Civilians who work for the federal government share the cost of their pension system and group health insurance programs. Most state and city government workers have similar protections. The federal government also has programs to protect railroad workers and members of the armed forces. In addition, all the states have "workers' compensation" laws that provide payments to workers or their families for jobconnected injury or death. The federal government makes grants to the states to help them finance public assistance and social services program for the needy and those who have exhausted their unemployment benefits. The federal government also helps the states meet the medical costs of the needy aged, the blind and disabled, and dependent children. Millions of workers in industry get extra protection through private plans offered by their employers on a fully paid or share-the-cost basis. These usually provide sickness and accidents benefits, hoptalization and medical care costs, disability and retirement payments. More than 800 000 business organizations offer some such plan. |