August 2013 is the timeframe local officials have identified for the implementation of the national health insurance system, but it could take up to three months after the system is in place before contributors could start accessing benefits.
Mr. Roy Barry, Deputy Director of the Social Security Board (SSB) with specific duties to head the National Health Insurance System told reporters that the design phase is being completed and the team is moving towards implementation.
He stated that the SSB along with the National Health Insurance Division will be the statutory body managing the national health insurance.
“The implementation date is proposed to be August 2013. We are currently awaiting the passage of the Legislation and yes the completion of the [new Peebles] hospital is instrumental to the implementation of the national health insurance and that is supposed to be completed also in August 2013,” Mr. Barry revealed at a press conference today, November 30.
According to Mr. Barry, the national health insurance will ensure benefit package for primary, secondary and tertiary care in public and private facilities. However, he revealed that there will be a grace period before benefits are honoured which will allow for the system to accumulate funds.
Overseas Treatment
Dr. Irad Potter who chaired the National Health Insurance Steering Committee stated that they have the Territory has held discussions about a health insurance plan since 1986 and since there have had a lot of starts and stops.
According to Dr. Potter, the national health insurance system will also ensure that when a person becomes sick that they will not go bankrupt paying their medical bills.
“Very often persons who have insurance find themselves reaching their limit of the coverage that is provided for certain portions of their care and so they have to resort to finding monies from elsewhere to pay to cover those bills. Under the national health insurance plan…their care will be guaranteed,” Dr. Potter pointed out.
In the case of care not available locally, Dr. Potter stated that there will be provisions made for a medical review committee along with the consulting physicians to make provisions about care overseas.
“Care overseas will be on a as necessary and medically indicated. We expect that thisprogram will bring a measure of security to residents in that putting aside money while you are able to work you are guaranteed access to continued care when you are no longer able to work. You are guaranteed access to care when you become sick,” Dr. Potter pointed out.
“We have designed a health insurance plan that we feel will be sustainable for the Virgin Islands,” Dr. Potter stated. The insurance plan is expected to draw on contributions from Government, employers and employees. It was revealed that discussions are ongoing with re-insurers and third party agents.
Dr. Potter stated that from a financial standpoint, the expectations are that monies which are spent on health in the Territory can be re-invested in the development of the health services in the Territory.
“At the national level re-investment of monies in the health sector is not as much. If in fact we strive to ensure that the quality of care available locally both in the private and the public sector is improved and citizens contribute to a plan which states that you have access to care locally and that the Ministry of Health will try to ensure that the standard of care is maintained…it means that persons will no longer go overseas for things that can be done here and that monies can be re-invested here to constantly improve both the quality and scope of services offered here in the Territory,” Dr. Potter noted.
He added that the national health insurance plan unlike the private health insurance plan has some advantages. Dr. Potter stated that there is a provision for investing in health promotion and prevention.
“Most private health insurance plans do not take care of health promotion programs…the national health insurance plan as designed will set aside a portion of funds to be accessible to non-governmental organizations who engage in health promotion activities to support such programs in the Territory,” Dr. Potter stated.
The program, he said, will ensure that no person would be denied access to care because of a pre-existing condition and it will also ensure that persons irrespective of their age can access care.
He also stated that persons who don´t have access to health care have given a very positive response because they now would have the security of having contributed to an insurance program and being able to access care when they need care.
Public meetings and other forms of interactions are planned for the coming weeks.
