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‘NHI means coverage until you die’ – Hon Melvin ‘Mitch’ Turnbull

- rejects assertions being made about Government’s health insurance scheme; said the package is incomparable & will soon release comparative study showing this
Representative for the Second District Honourable Melvin 'Mitch' Turnbull said he will soon disclose the results of a comparative study he has done on the National Health Insurance (NHI) to compare and contrast with the insurance packages offered by private insurance agencies. Photo: VINO
A section of the audience at the meeting. Photo: VINO
A section of the audience at the meeting. Photo: VINO
"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. Photo: VINO/File
CANE GARDEN BAY, Tortola, VI - Representative for the Second District Honourable Melvin 'Mitch' Turnbull said he will soon disclose the results of a comparative study he has done on the National Health Insurance (NHI) to compare and contrast with the insurance packages offered by private insurance agencies.

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 ”

  • trrefdrfds (28/09/2015, 08:24) Like (27) Dislike (5) Reply
    True, coverage until we die. ----Hope its not coverage to die
  • CONCERNS (28/09/2015, 08:31) Like (23) Dislike (2) Reply
    People have a lot of concerns with NHI--Listen--Dental, Eyes, None Visa, Pregnancy, Baby delivery, The Cap, The cost, overseas care procedures will it be complicated, will it be fair, will it be bias....These are the Concerns I am reading about and hearing about. They are good and genuine concerns. I am certain that these concerns are been addressed....I am willing to give it a try in spite of losing my private insurance.
  • I`m for NHI (28/09/2015, 08:37) Like (1) Dislike (10) Reply
    We should be a shame to put our people down like that by bringing in some professor to tell us non-sense, We have so much people here together they have more than a hundred years of experience, use them. Or get the Policies that the local Private insurance are offering, peruse them and give us something comparable.
  • ABC (28/09/2015, 09:00) Like (14) Dislike (3) Reply
    What study? Pure spin
  • Patriotic (28/09/2015, 09:12) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's not the coverage, it's the quality of health care been offered by bvihsa. People of the opinion that their health have been significantly compromise by this NHI undertaking.
    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.
  • nwa (28/09/2015, 09:13) Like (34) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's not lifetime coverage. NHI has a lifetime limit of $1 million. They never stated what happens when you reach the cap. My guess would be that you're on your own.
    • @nwa (28/09/2015, 09:48) Like (21) Dislike (1) Reply
      Great comment! - It is amazing how the NHI is being marketed as coverage for your lifetime, when it has a lifetime limit of $1 million. That means that you have coverage up to your lifetime maximum and not until you die. It doesn't seem like Hon. Turnbull understands the NHI then!
    • concern (28/09/2015, 09:54) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      You always on your own because they always wait until you are on your last breath to sent you off thinking that the US doctors is GOD they are very slow to get you off for treatment I can testify to that even though I have a good insurance they refuse to get me to PUERTO RICO to my doctor where he were waiting to receive me they told my son they fax the paper work and that was a lie up to now they haven't send them I went on to PUERTO RICO with out the help of PEEBLES HOSPITAL where I were admitted and now you will have to wait until they consider if a person should get outside treatment the NHI need to go back to the drawing board until they get it iron out.
    • @nwa (28/09/2015, 10:31) Like (6) Dislike (40) Reply
      Have you read your private insurance policy lately? Most of them give the same 1mil limit that NHI is giving. What I gather from a lot of the NHI criticism is that persons don't know what their current policy says... because if they did they would realize NHI reads the same way.
      • @@nwa (28/09/2015, 11:21) Like (13) Dislike (2) Reply
        Speak for yourself, my policy is currently a $2 million lifetime maximum. Plus, there are things covered at 100% as well. You need to be aware that the NHI will also have co-pays and also you should take time to read what out of pocket expenses you will have with the NHI from assuming that all private insurance policies would read the same way as the NHI. That is not true!
        • @@@nwa (29/09/2015, 11:47) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          NHI in network copays are considerably smaller than private insurance copays. Also; there are no deductibles. And what is the difference between 1 mil and 2 mil? Both can run out especially if you have a chronic illness that requires lifetime tertiary care. Lastly; I think it is obvious that each private insurance policy has their own terms. I was speaking in general terms.... nhi does not differ as much as ppl r making it seem. Yes it is new. It is unfamiliar. I myself have my concerns about it, but I am also mindful of the evolving social conditions that we face in the BVI. It's time we become country minded again. This individualistic way of business is going to make us sicker, lonelier and run this country into the ground. Open up your minds to the bigger picture.
  • peace (28/09/2015, 09:21) Like (16) Dislike (1) Reply
    Young Christian man don't get yourself cut up in corruption. You know better. You are not stupid
  • Observer (28/09/2015, 09:35) Like (20) Dislike (1) Reply
    No Mitch, there is a lifetime coverage of $1 million. So it means coverage until you reach that one million limit, after which you are on your own.
  • vip fan club (28/09/2015, 09:42) Like (23) Dislike (0) Reply
    Just imagine facing a hospital board filled with NDP supporters.
  • hope not (28/09/2015, 09:43) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    All roads lead to the purple place.
  • Just my two cent (28/09/2015, 11:00) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    I don't have a problem with NHI, I just wish they streamline everything soon, like the networks, the coverage and will be covered overseas.
  • Ques (28/09/2015, 11:07) Like (15) Dislike (2) Reply
    Tell me young man have you joined the corruption.. Tell us what kind of care. Do we have the doctors? Do we have equipment in the hospital or are we going to be sent to bougainvillea for every test. Who are the people who will decide if one can go overseas for treatment? These politicians are dragging us below third world living. Our own politicians seem to be envious of the life the ordinary man in this country enjoys. They are trying to put us on par with the countries of their friends.
  • just a little logic (28/09/2015, 11:10) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    nothing said on any side of the matter about people just paying for their health care themselves. those who pay
    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?
    • MICKEY MOUSE (29/09/2015, 13:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree with you .Do you think all the ministers giving there private insurance ? If they do there credit card can take them any where for good health care.How many specialist are at the hospital ? They right to say "1 million" life time policy . Thank God only have the last and not man. If it leave to them , a lot of us will die.
  • @just a little logic (28/09/2015, 12:50) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Nothing at all wrong with paying for what you get. The problem has been that people have not paid for the services they have gotten at Peebles Hospital for the past 20 years and hence the Government was forced to make NHI mandatory. So that whoever taps the services at Peebles now in our new state of the art hospital, they will receive payment when before not a dime they received. You see, consequences for action is what we are seeing today. A simpe fever, they run down to the clinic with their children. Nothing wrong with free healthcae if you can afford it, but in the beautiful Virgin Islands, we are not there yet. It is important to set up this new hospital and its infrastructure to handle all medical emergencies so that we all can benefit. BUPA, for example, has one deductible for the Virgin Islands of $250 but when you get to U.S. it is $1,000. There will be no difference between NHI and BUPA I don't believe. Right now I pay over $500 per month for my BUPA insurance for a family of 3 and still have to come up with $1,500 for a check up, or what I call preventative care. I am going with the flow. The way I see it, BUPA, NHI, no difference. Health Insurance, they will always be the same.
  • Yes (28/09/2015, 12:51) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    NHI Lifetime Coverage is like Digicel Unlimited plan. Lol
  • question (28/09/2015, 13:04) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    I understand the government will not keep the current health plan for the civil servants. Would they be keeping it for themselves and the high officials?
  • green hand (28/09/2015, 16:34) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    THIS GUY IS OVERRATED, A DISAPPOINTMENT AND A WASTE OF TIME....ALVIN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WHEN HE WAS FIRST ELECTED.
  • Detritus (28/09/2015, 18:16) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    The coverage isn't full coverage so you'll die not being able to pay for the heavier treatment. Dude ain't lying.
  • VOICES (28/09/2015, 21:04) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    My biggest problem with NHI is that it's removing our freedom of choice (communism). There are already people who have insurance coverage from their jobs or from choosing to pay for it on their own but now because of this NHI mandate, they'll be forced to give it up in order to pay for NHI. To me, a government that removes freedom of choice is a backwards government heading from a democracy to a dictatorship. If NHI had an option to opt out or was even competitive with other insurance plans, I wouldn't have any problem with it. I think ensuring all our people can afford healthcare without fearing illness is the way forward but I can't get on board because what I'm seeing now seems to be a lot of show boating to hide a lie; to hide the fact that this wasn't thought out properly. Why are the people being forced to pay for an incomplete service while the government is still trying to make deals with local and overseas doctors to accept NHI? Our politicians are only the second set of people I have ever seen in my life who can talk for hours and say a whole load of nothing. The people of the BVI are asking serious questions like, "How will this policy affect inflation and employment rates in the BVI?" and all these politicians are doing is telling you'll have coverage for a lifetime. This is akin to asking the politicians, "How would covering up the guts in Road Town alleviate the sewer stench in town?" and they respond, "The sky is blue." Well that's all fine and dandy, Mr. Politician but could you please give us an believable answer that is relevant to our questions?

    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.
  • Help (29/09/2015, 04:29) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    God help us all
  • Patriotic (29/09/2015, 09:52) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    democracy does not stop after an election
    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
  • Citizen (29/09/2015, 12:25) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Dictatorship and communism have come to our shores under the guise of helping our people. The party in power will soon take away other privileges from us. Follow the history of Cuba. These men pretend to be Christians but they are far from that. That is their way to fool the people.


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