Az 1891. évi betegbiztosítási törvény végrehajtása
The implementation of the 1891 Act on health insurance

Summary/Abstract: The subject of the paper is the first Hungarian law on social security, passed in 1891, which made the health insurance of all industrial employees compulsory in Hungary. The law closely followed the Bismarckian and Austrian insurance laws, not only in time but with respect to its contents as well. However, while the implementation of the law worked relatively smoothly in those countries, it struggled with various difficulties in Hungary. Consequently, the proportion of those actually insured was far lower than the same proportions in Germany and Austria at the time. The paper first attempts to place the beginnings of Hungarian social security within the European ideas of the solution of the social issue, then goes on discussing the law by precisely defining the range of the insured, not omitting the important issue of insuring day-labourers. Then it discusses the organisational aspects of insurance, such as the establishment of the new savings bank system, and the deficiencies in the organisation of collecting contributions. This latter difficulty, besides the inadequacy of medical care was in itself enough to prevent a significant part of the industrial population from becoming insured, and/or from receiving adequate care if ensured. Workers’ mutual benefit societies were the most important bases of political organising activity in contemporary Hungary. That is why it was an important aspect of making the law to prevent workers from organising themselves. The paper discusses the measures within the Health Insurance Act to impede political organisation. Finally, the conclusion mentions that further research may focus on the connection between the governmental objective of increasing economic, especially industrial, competitiveness, and the development of workers’ insurance.

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