Minister of Health Dr Perry Gomez speaks at a conference on health-related sustainable development goals at the police headquarters. Photo: Tim Clarke/Tribune Staff
By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
DESPITE assurances from the government, the Police Staff Association continues to be concerned about the future of the health insurance scheme for police officers, fearing that it will be diminished as National Health Insurance comes on stream.
Although primary health care is slated to begin in April, the government has not given a definite timeline as to when the more expansive vital benefits package will be introduced.
It is unclear when catastrophic coverage will be rolled out, however the government has said a special fund will be created to help those with serious illnesses in the interim.
Through their current health insurance arrangement, police officers have access to primary and catastrophic coverage.
In a letter to Mr Smith on January 15, NHI Secretariat Permanent Secretary Peter Deveaux-Isaacs said the PSA chairman’s concerns are being considered.
He stressed that insurance benefits offered to police officers will not be diminished under NHI, but added that once primary care is rolled out it is anticipated that these benefits would be “removed from any existing policy coverage”.
“(Your) recommendations were forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for consideration,” Mr Deveaux-Isaacs wrote. “You would appreciate that the government’s primary health insurance is negotiated between the Ministry of Finance and the insurance companies directly with no direct involvement from National Health Insurance save and except, in your instance the National Health Insurance Secretariat acted as the intermediary to ensure that the recommendations put forward by your organisation were submitted to the relevant agency for consideration.
“The government has, however, enunciated as its official position, that the implementation of National Health Insurance would not in any way diminish the benefits currently enjoyed by members of the police and correctional associations. It is anticipated that NHI will roll out with primary health care benefits. Once these benefits are rolled out under the NHI programme, it is anticipated that they would be removed from any existing policy coverage as the government should not have to pay twice for the coverage.”
As it relates to discussing the police health care coverage scheme with health insurance companies, a source familiar with such dealings said it would likely take months to arrange and finalise.
It was unclear if the discussions have already started.
Comments
TruePeople 8 years, 2 months ago
lol... so even the police don't trust the gov't.
That is a great state of affairs
sheeprunner12 8 years, 2 months ago
Bigger issue ................... what is going to happen with all of these medical plans signed as part of collective bargaining agreements between unions and the government or corporations?????????? ..................... We need answers from the NHI handlers
proudloudandfnm 8 years, 2 months ago
Can someone please call Perry and let him know he is definitely going to win election 2017, since the FNM has decided not to run, so no need to rush this NHI thingy.....
Thanks....
Well_mudda_take_sic 8 years, 2 months ago
Re-post: Money the corrupt Christie-led PLP government proposes to take from honest hardworking Bahamians under the guise of a NHI program would be squandered in the way our National Insurance funds have been squandered. The corrupt Christie-led PLP government have proven they are totally incompetent in running the country's finances.....just look at how Christie and his buffoons have run the Bank of The Bahamas, the Post Office Savings Bank, BEC, the Public Dump (and its fires), Water & Sewerage Corp., and just about every other government department, agency and corporation. Can you just imagine brain-dead Christie, whose robo-mouth seems to be forever on auto pilot espousing nothing but hot air tripe, and his moronic sidekicks running a government that will call all of the shots when it comes to your medical needs! All Bahamians should shudder at the very thought of this. No health care at all would be better than very poor quality health care that frequently kills, which is all that Christie and his fellow bozos would ever be capable of forcing on Bahamians and their children. Woe is me, shame on Christie and his political family of thugs!!
B_I_D___ 8 years, 2 months ago
I've said it before and will say it again...if NHI is coming into effect I think it should be made mandatory across the board that any government employment agreement has the concept of private health insurance expunged and the government worker goes onto NHI...all the way up to the PM's office. If I am going to be faced to pay for the NHI initiative, I don't see why I have to pay higher utility bills and such to supplement private insurance, when I'm already paying your NHI.
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