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Insurance & health care providers abusing NHI– Hon Melvin M. Turnbull

- said in other countries such acts would be criminal
Second District Representative Hon Melvin 'Mitch' Turnbull has accused insurance and health care providers of abusing NHI. Photo: Facebook/File
According to Health Minister Hon Ronnie W. Skelton, NHI has paid out some $16M in claims up to August 2016. Photo: VINO/File
According to Health Minister Hon Ronnie W. Skelton, NHI has paid out some $16M in claims up to August 2016. Photo: VINO/File
Persons line up to register for National Health Insurance (NHI) on December 30, 2015. Photo. Photo: VINO/File
Persons line up to register for National Health Insurance (NHI) on December 30, 2015. Photo. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Honourable Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull (R2) spared no bones in blasting health care providers and insurance companies guilty of abusing the National Health Insurance of the territory.

Hon Turnbull was on September 23, 2016 speaking under Any Other Business at the First Sitting of the Second Session of the Third House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands.

“But Madam Speaker my comments are geared a bit differently this morning as we have some persons, insurance providers and care providers, Madam Speaker, blatantly abusing the system.”

Hon Turnbull continued, “Madam Speaker, it is absolutely ridiculous that we have some of the same persons that would say and have said NHI would bankrupt this territory, NHI will fail and NHI would do this and that and they would cost the people this and that these same companies, Madam Speaker, both insurance and care providers, are the ones increasing their rates.”

He further said it the same set of persons are also writing to customers saying, even when providing your private insurance, saying to customers and to the businesses (eye doctors/dentists etc), “That they will not pay because NHI is the preferred or premier provider.”

“Madam speaker if I have ABC company and I produce that after getting tended to by a physician or your office Madam Speaker that is who I want exactly to pay the coverage. I do not have to provide my NHI card. But for these companies, Madam Speaker, to write back to these insurance companies, to write back to the companies, Madam Speakers, the physicians and say they would not pay until NHI covers, Madam Speaker, it is absolutely an abuse of the system Madam Speaker.”

Criminal act

Hon Turnbull further told the House that he has background in insurance and were it anywhere else in the Caribbean or the world, “This would be considered criminal and charges would be brought against the proprietors of these companies and fines would be executed, Madam Speaker.”

He said the difficulty is trying to understand how is it the territory has something to call its own, with an avenue whereby to cover members of the territory that would usually have no access to insurance, and those in position to work alongside this system are the very ones taking advantage of the system.

“Madam Speaker I think and I believe and I have pledged my support to the Minister of Health that whatever needs to be done to address this direct abuse of the NHI, which is put out for our people, Madam Speaker, whatever is need to be done, whatever regulations, whatever fines we need to put in place, Madam Speaker, that we do so because we cannot continue to allow persons and businesses here in this territory to do what they are doing.”

He said that at the end of the day the persons that are being hurt are the people.

Hon Turnbull also alluded to the fact that since its implementation NHI has done good for persons. He also alluded to the Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton during his response to questions in the House revealing that NHI had paid out some $16M in claims up to August 2016.

30 Responses to “Insurance & health care providers abusing NHI– Hon Melvin M. Turnbull”

  • Review NHI now. (24/09/2016, 09:56) Like (24) Dislike (3) Reply
    They allow that to happen because they know it all. patients lime me kept complaining that the doctors fees have doubled since the introduction of NHI because we know. We were going to these same Doctors long before NHI ..Then again maybe Ronnie knows what he is doing making his friends rich off of us.
  • dog (24/09/2016, 10:06) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    Hope he go tell his ndp friends tthat
  • Going back to sweet Jamaica (24/09/2016, 10:07) Like (29) Dislike (3) Reply
    Nhi is who abusing the public. I needed to be tested for zika and was told that my nhi card cannot cover the expense of the test and i had to come up with six hundred dollars to pay for the test. Nhi new hostage insurance is the death sentence of this country
    • NHI You say (24/09/2016, 22:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Lawd, i thought i had it bad i had to get tested for Zika by a private clinic and i had to pay $204 i thought i had it bad but on a serious note these health care providers are out of control with their fees. What about the women who are tested for zika what are they doing for them since it takes about 2 to 3 weeks to get back the results what are they to do until then?
  • Angry (24/09/2016, 10:25) Like (18) Dislike (11) Reply
    Why this /// talking piss if the people taking advantage of NHI MR TURNBULL please tell us who is taking advantage of the tax payers money . I think you should shut your /// up and stop being a puppet on a string from CANE GARDEN BAY TO ROAD TOWN. Check the treasury and see who commit crimes. And any other place they would have been in prison for tax payers money you ever here any was charge for going to a doctor for their health. Tell the ////// stop ripping off the government.
  • Jacperlance (24/09/2016, 10:30) Like (21) Dislike (7) Reply
    And it is so amazing that you find yourself with a klan that is misusing and abusing government funds
  • Hmmmm (24/09/2016, 10:46) Like (27) Dislike (3) Reply
    speak Mr Thurnbull...... they are wrong.....as NHI get in place there prices sky rocket...something needs to be done because in the end its only the people is who are going to suffer
  • Law Abiding citizen (24/09/2016, 10:57) Like (31) Dislike (0) Reply
    FYI. JIPA is the insurance company that underwrites and manages this insurance. They're making millions, and their local partner is Dr. Vanterpool. Is that conflict of interest?
    • my lord (24/09/2016, 12:16) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
      With his practice now the usual fees for everything prior to NHI is now the copay. Don't know how he going see God face. The love of money...
      • @my lord (24/09/2016, 15:19) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
        God is only a cover-up for some of them; their god is moneey- millions and millions, and millions more.
    • Yes. (24/09/2016, 15:06) Like (19) Dislike (2) Reply
      He deep in NDP Gov't decision making; a high ranking undercover member of the cliche too.
  • eye over eye (24/09/2016, 11:03) Like (19) Dislike (0) Reply
    this place needed some real good upper hand honest persons looking out for the people.strong to concerd the gready rich scammers.
  • pure madness (24/09/2016, 11:22) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    Let all of them tek than.. I know this were coming.. they should of leave us with own personal insurance but instead of that they trying to put holes everywhere in our pockets. Now the dutty NDP crying... we the ppl should be the one's crying cause yall ripping us off everyday. So go back to the NDP table an talk it over...social security and NHi under one roof but still yet we are paying separately. An they think is to give a $6.00 raise , come on now... let the Lord have his mercy on us.
    • Mitch the mommas boi (24/09/2016, 12:44) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
      They are more than eighteen zika cases here in the bvi. People just t cant afford to get tested. So it is eighteen youths that has been tested.
  • See (24/09/2016, 11:25) Like (24) Dislike (1) Reply
    How about publishing the names of the providers and businesses who are abusing the system . Further , everyday we the people see that criminal acts and behavior are the norm from our own government officials . So to act surprised when businesses , providers , and adults and our youth rob and steal is hypocritical . Who should be setting the proper example ? And when will we say enough is enough and have the GUTS to take back the character and morality of our beloved country .? We have a been standing by and watching this for too long a time . How about the honest hard working people take our country back and show our youth the way to suceed is through honest hard wwork and compassion and not the relentless greed we continue to see on a daily basis . We are better than that
    • How (24/09/2016, 14:47) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
      Who were these honest people your talking about to take back our country and if so that were so there already dead or to old to do anything
  • NHI (24/09/2016, 14:39) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    When this all boils down Ronnie back in our salary again taking out another large junk and our salary get smaller again.
  • Time to change (24/09/2016, 14:43) Like (17) Dislike (3) Reply
    Yall want to be shouting ndp and vip why we need for strupessss both of them need to be gone so serious and we so say that yall want them to stop ripping us off well stop voting for them them ain't no good when are we going to wake up see they are so many people out here no jobs or jobs that pays $4.00 an hour struggling but yet still vip and ndp driving big expensive vehicle big house why do we keep voting for these people they care for them self first please my bvi members let's kick them out let's find another way for life to be better in the bvi we have tried enough with ndp and vip let's try another method I love all of my bvi people and I am tired of seeing my people always being let down from people we put in place to make a better life in the bvi
  • madam speaker (24/09/2016, 21:35) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    If he say Madam Speaker, one more time!
  • voiceofthevoiceless (24/09/2016, 21:47) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    The major reason for the abuse and hike in prices is due to the lack of competition on the local health insurance market. They were warned not to make it mandatory for the insured to get NHI but they refused to listen. My insurance company just wrote me and told me they will be discontinuing their coverage for the BVI as of June next year so I will have no choice but to get the NHI and a supplemental policy for US coverage. The mandate has led to many like me losing their private insurance policies but also a rise in health care costs as the competition on the market is dwindling to the nonexistent. Why do you think that they healthcare providers want the NHI over the private insurance?

    This is a poorly thought out scheme or maybe it is not. Possibly that was the intention all along.
  • Lily Ann (25/09/2016, 00:00) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    OOOOH The Government calls it a crime when they get stolen from.... But they keeps quiet when the Citizens get stolen from by business places, Infrastructure etc !!!! WOW talk about priorities
  • Lemon (25/09/2016, 05:58) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I hope the New party we put in next election revisit NHI and BVI Health services with a view to make changes, I can't see us BVI people electing or putting NDP or VIP back in power.. The act like masters. Who know it all. And we are the dumm slaves. That has to change.
  • Mich Think About it (25/09/2016, 07:25) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    How are the providers doing this? Could it be that you are just finding out how sick the population really is? Those who never had insurance could not afford going to the hospital but since now its the law that all must have it or go to jail they are now coming in to deal with their sickness and to check or confirm any fears they may have had? Did anyone ask the providers for any stats prior to NHI and stats after NHI to see if there was truly a hike or patient increase in visitation? In a society one thing ties into another, importation of bad food cause bad health and cause an increase in NHI payouts. Testing and restriction of importing bad foods could cut NHI cost. Growing local organic foods could help cut NHI costs, and to start, get the green houses up and running. Who is looking at pollution? The Air is dirty and when it rains it wash the pollutants down on our roofs and into our cisterns. Some boil that and drink it. Result, more NHI costs. We can fix pollution by not cutting down our trees especially in towns. Prune them but not cut down. So Mich there is a lot more but stop for a moment and bring back the human in you and all the politicians and think about it.
  • voter (25/09/2016, 12:38) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mich needs to go back and actually read the regulations and policies that his government passed instead of mouthing off.

    NHI is the legal primary insurer in the BVI it is illegal for a private insurer to be primary insurer in the BVI. How do you expect the insurers to stay in business when in one stroke of the pen you made their services unaffordable to the masses? obviously with a smaller pool to insure the rates went up! How is this abuse? duh? you claim to work in insurance?

    The NHI only pays providers what they the NHI have agreed to pay them. How is this abuse?

    Please sit back down and read up on the policies and laws that your party has passed and approved before pontificating where you are protected from slander and libel.
  • Wes (25/09/2016, 12:55) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mitch's smoke screen does not distract from the fact that his political colleague rushed through the construction of the New Peebles Hospital, the formation of the BVIHSA, and now the implementation of the NHI.

    All the political back slapping and congratulating does not negate the fact while these all may be good ideas in principle they were all rushed to meet political deadlines and expediency. The result is a series of failures due to no proper planning or transition. We, our children, and our grandchildren, are now saddled with the current, expensive and poorly functioning mess of a health system that we now have.

    This is far from a success but a dismal failure and to now lay blame on the private providers and insurance companies who have been propping up this failed health system for decades is undignified and abysmal. Next time you are in our House of Assembly kindly lay blame squarely at the feet of the Minister of Health where it belongs.
  • W*F (26/09/2016, 17:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Insurance Agencies and Healthcare Facilities that is violating and ripping off NHI, should incur hefty fines, and in extreme cases be jailed.
  • Hate poli tricker (26/09/2016, 22:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    dont cry you start it trying to make people pay for you all f up now it bitting you in the ass.
  • HAHAHA (28/09/2016, 23:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hell yes we are abusing it. Cause y'all are idiots! Haha


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