The Tribune

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

DISAPPOINTED with the quality of consultation between itself and the government, the Bahamas Insurance Association has decided not to share key industry data about the nature of health insurance in the Bahamas with the Christie administration as the date for National Health Insurance registration nears.

This opens the possibility that the government’s proposals for National Health Insurance (NHI) may not have taken into account the most comprehensive and up-to-date information. In a press statement, the Bahamas Insurance Association (BIA) said yesterday that the government’s move to finalise its plans and release cost projections for them without accounting for the industry’s data is one reason why it has decided not to share its potentially useful information. This symbolises the lack of synergy between the government and the insurance industry even as registration for NHI is set to begin next week.

In order to hand over its data to the government’s consultant, PricewatershouseCoopers (PwC), the BIA wanted to secure a non-disclosure agreement that would ensure its data would not be given to unauthorised persons and that the association would be consulted more deeply about the government’s plans and projections with respect to NHI.

“The NHI implementation team has since provided the BIA with an unsigned and undated response to its universal health coverage proposal that rejected every single recommendation made,” the BIA’s statement said.

“...At a meeting hosted by the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation on December 16, 2015, we were surprised to learn that the NHI implementation team had already completed the costing of the NHI primary care package. The government’s NHI consultant, Mr Cercone of Sanigest indicated that the insurance data relied upon in that costing was from 2007. In response to our concern that this was limited and out-of-date information, he indicated that the government was entirely comfortable with the methods used and results, and is moving forward to implement NHI based on that information. It was also suggested that PwC had validated the cost estimates. The BIA notes that this was done without any consultation with the BIA or its members.”

“The pronouncements of government representatives, the dismissive content of the response to our (universal health care) proposal and the approval of the NHI legislation by Cabinet (without consultation) confirms that our position has been entirely ignored.

“The NHI design and implementation process is so far advanced that we believe that the requested data will not add any value to the process. The NHI implementation team and Sanigest have asserted that they are comfortable with their numbers, which they claim have been validated by PwC.

“We have no reason to believe that any subsequent report by PwC will be given consideration based on the manner in which the leaked initial PwC report has been ignored. Among other things that report stated that ‘implementation of NHI as it is currently proposed has the potential to seriously destabilise both the public and private sectors of the health care system.”

“The BIA regrets the current state of the debate concerning the implementation of a progressive social initiative such as universal health care for all Bahamians. Our position is based on what we perceive to be the determination of the government to proceed on its current trajectory in spite of the clear evidence that suggests that a different course of action is necessary. In light of what has transpired to date, health insurance companies that are members of the BIA have unanimously agreed not to sign the NDA or share any data with PwC at this time. It was further agreed that should circumstances change in a manner which suggests that our need for meaningful consultations is being taken seriously, the BIA would be more than happy to reconsider its position.”

Some of the insurance companies that are members of the BIA include Atlantic Medical Insurance Limited, BAF Financial & Insurance Limited, Colina Insurance Limited, Family Guardian Insurance Company, Generali Worldwide, New Providence Life Insurance Company Limited and BF&M Life Insurance Company Limited.

The BIA hoped that after considering all available information and data the government would reconsider its decision to introduce a public insurer into the marketplace.

The BIA said it was not consulted on the NHI legislation that was recently approved by Cabinet and is expected to soon make its way to the House of Assembly.