‘NHI means coverage until you die’ – Hon Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull
Speaking at a community meeting in Cane Garden Bay on Thursday September 24, 2015, Honourable Turnbull said that due to lack of correct information in the public domain people are unclear of the benefits under NHI.
He hopes that the release of his report would lead to a better understanding of what Government is trying to accomplish through the introduction and implementation of the scheme.
Some of the main arguments against the NHI is that persons will be forced give up their constitutional freedom of choice and right to life as argued by talk show host Edmund G. Maduro; that the NHI will mean loss of jobs in the insurance industry as put forward by the Insurance Association of the BVI (IABVI); and that the NHI should be taken back to the drawing board to address concerns of persons who would prefer to keep their private insurance as argued by Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru. Wheatley has started a petition against the NHI which has been gaining traction.
Registration for NHI began on September 1, 2015 and full implementation is to commence on January 1, 2016.
A lot of comments about what NHI is & isn't
"The Government of the Virgin Islands has introduced the National Health Insurance. There are a lot of comments and ideas of what NHI is and isn't and what can do and what it can't do," said Honourable Turnbull.
"One of the things we hear is that the NHI is only for use in the BVI, NHI is supposed to pay for the hospital, NHI is government's way of introducing a new tax, NHI is forcing you to cancel your existing insurance," Honourable Turnbull pointed out.
With formal training in the insurance sector having been licenced since 2002 in life, health and variable annuity insurance, Honourable Turnbull believes he is well qualified to speak on the issue.
He said back in 2012 as a member of the BVI Health Services Authority he heard the initial presentations which were made on the NHI thus he understood what the process was about.
"NHI was saying to us that for 3.75 percent if someone had a sickness they can receive coverage from that point until death," he said.
"What you're not hearing from the persons out there speaking negatively about the programme is that there is a category of persons in insurance deemed uninsurable. Usually it happens for males around 63 or 64 and for females around 65 up to maybe 67. They deem you uninsurable because you are that much closer to your mortality rate," he said.
He asked the audience whether they wouldn't prefer to have coverage where for the rest of their lives they only pay the maximum of about $251 per month.
"Under NHI there is no deductible...which means you don't have to pay a certain amount before you receive treatment," he said.
The Second District Representative said that it is "absolutely not true" that under NHI coverage is only made for treatment in the Virgin Islands.
He said contrary to what some may think, the private insurers do seek preapproval for overseas medical expenditure. He said that in a similar fashion, the pre-approval for NHI comes from a review committee comprising a network of doctors.
Honourable Turnbull explained that under NHI persons can be treated abroad provided there is a relationship established with that institution. He said at the end of the day if a person is treated at a facility that is not licenced or accredited then the Government is held liable should anything happen to that patient.
“I am challenging you over the next three months starting in September, [to access] the information that is coming out of the website nhi.vi.vg. Visit the website and understand the process,” he said.
“Premier Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith has asked me to put together a report…a comparative report between what the current insurance providers are doing and the benefits under the NHI and I guarantee you will be amazed at what the Government [is offering through the NHI],” he said.
Stop bashing our hospital
Further, he urged that persons stop maligning Peebles Hospital especially since all the work which was done to bring it to where it is today.
“We have a hospital which may not have previously the best record but we spent millions of dollars on the new facility and persons coming from the United States and the Caribbean have rated not only the building but the quality of the healthcare in the BVI as one of the best in the Caribbean and we cannot appreciate what we have,” he said.
31 Responses to “‘NHI means coverage until you die’ – Hon Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull ”
Then there is the matter of public relation (very poor) in selling tNHI to the public Eg private healthcare fees chart. Private insurance company are yet to see this so they can better advise their client.
for it with their own money, not relying on any insurance, should be allowed to continue without being FORCED to
buy the NHI insurance. What ever became of paying for what you get?
Someone commented about elitism in an article a few months back. I assure you that not all nay sayers against NHI are rich or even moderately comfortable. You're right though, there are elitists in the BVI and they're staring you right in the face. For over half a century, BVIslanders have been condoning a mentality that favours crooked politicians and crony nepotism. NHI is just a manifestation of us being complacent to the 'almighty dollar.' Your fight is not with the average BVIslander but the same people who are trying to sell you this shoebox fantasy. Check it out. Most of these politicians don't even utilise public healthcare in the BVI yet still they want to be dictating how it should be run. (I'm looking at you, Mr. Health Minister.) When last have you ever heard about any of them having to wait eight months to see the dentist in the VG clinic or having to wait until the cardiologist from away returns to check on their hearts? The minute any one of them get sick, they're flown overseas to their expensive overseas doctors (most likely American) as soon as possible, even when the service they require could be rendered here at Peebles Hospital. If our healthcare system is so great why don't these politicians have faith in it? And how do they expect us to have faith in it when they don't even lead by showing that they do? My challenge to the politicians of the BVI is to be a leader and show good faith. The next time any of you or your own get sick, stay here and go through the system like your poorest. If you have to be flown overseas, go where you're intending on sending us and use the doctors you want us to use. Live a day in our shoes and then tell us that your idea for our future is logical and practical. Maybe then I would believe that you have our people's best interest at heart.
it should continues in all branches of government majority of the population against nhi what should a democratically elected government do ? then there is the question of people who cant afford any forms of insurance i dont think the govenment bureauctats are not articulate enough to strike a balance
bvi is unique in terms of workforce our society is a cosmopolitan one and as such we should not take or copy other caribbean countries