NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas Government is one step closer to fulfilling its promise of providing universal access to affordable, quality health care for all Bahamians, as it moves to put the finishing touches on the proposed $235 million National Health Insurance plan.
Dr Bernard J Nottage, Minister of Health and National Insurance gave an update on the health plan which is aimed at revolutionizing the availability and delivery of health care, with over $10 million aimed at health care promotion.
Dr Nottage’s comments came at a seminar for parliamentarians held at the British Colonial Hilton Hotel on Wednesday afternoon.
Only government MPs and Senators attended, along with Independent MP Tennyson Wells, who hours later castigated the Opposition Free National Movement for not attending the seminar. Mr Wells said the health of the nation was beyond politics.
In his slide presentation Dr Nottage focused particularly on how National Health Insurance would be funded, who will make contributions, and what benefits will attach to such a scheme.
“Firstly, government will contribute on behalf of the poor, wards of the state, and its share of contribution by its workers,” Dr Nottage told participants, including Prime Minister Perry Christie and other Ministers and Senators. “It has not yet been determined whether children will be covered by their parents’ contributions or if government will make full contribution on their behalf.
“Secondly, employers, employees and self-employed workers will contribute about 5.3 percent of earnings. In the case of employers and employees, percentage sharing may be equal so what each party contributes 2.65 percent. Thirdly, pensioners will contribute. Altogether, the proposal anticipates contribution revenue covering the total cost of the NHI of $235million.”
And for those Bahamians who already have private insurance, the government is proposing that private insurers have an option of charging co-payments for services provided.
“What that means is that the government will pay for the service at the cost it is provided at in the public service and the patient will have to pay the balance,” he said. “Employers now have an opportunity to re-negotiate expensive private insurance packages as National Health Insurance will cover the majority of health risks.”
Also proposed is that NHI should not focus only on treating sickness but should also provide funds for heath promotion and wellness, as well as for improvements in the health system, said Dr Nottage.
“To facilitate these objectives, resources will be set aside in the NHI to support private and public agencies and groups to implement project activities aimed at health promotion, illness prevention and technological improvements for quality care.
“We expect, with the NIB using its network of facilities and officers, reduction in the cost of some of the main activities in NHI such as registration and collection of contributions,” said Dr Nottage.
Private insurers will have an opportunity to provide benefits that NHI will not include or partially cover.
These include dental, vision and long-term geriatric care, specialist care without referral and overseas care without referral.
