Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

Petition being prepared to challenge NHI in current form

- IABVI says Gov’t has refused to listen to suggestions on NHI
Speaking on the talk show, Speak out BVI with host Doug Wheatley on ZBVI 780 AM on Tuesday September 1, 2015, political activist Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru said a petition is being prepared to challenge NHI in its current form, which he said is inferior and bound to fail. Photo: VINO/File
With the many concerns and unanswered questions of the public regarding the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI), it is not surprising that a petition is being prepared as one of the steps to challenge the recently launched health scheme. Photo: VINO/File
With the many concerns and unanswered questions of the public regarding the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI), it is not surprising that a petition is being prepared as one of the steps to challenge the recently launched health scheme. Photo: VINO/File
The Insurance Association of the BVI has criticised government for ignoring its concerns about NHI and has also challenged it to release its own figures showing how NHI would be viable. Image: VINO
The Insurance Association of the BVI has criticised government for ignoring its concerns about NHI and has also challenged it to release its own figures showing how NHI would be viable. Image: VINO
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- With the many concerns and unanswered questions of the public regarding the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI), it is not surprising that a petition is being prepared as one of the steps to challenge the recently launched health scheme.

Speaking on the talk show, Speak out BVI with host Doug Wheatley on ZBVI 780 AM on Tuesday September 1, 2015, political activist Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru said a petition is being prepared to challenge NHI in its current form, which he said is inferior and bound to fail.

Mr Wheatley made it clear, however, that universal health coverage is something that every society should aspire to so that the most vulnerable in society could have access to health care but that is must be done in such a way that the society itself would be able to sustain it and not be ‘damaged’ by it.

He also said he found that the approach government is taking regarding NHI is the wrong approach.

According to Mr Wheatley, government had started with consultations and were met with some resistance and concerns but for some reason the consultations stopped and government shifted into a mode of implementation instead.

“We live in a democratic society and it is very troubling for me that the Government, a small minority of people in a territory, can decide that they are going to force to have something like the NHI especially when the Insurance Association of the BVI has informed that 60% of the population is already insured and quite a number of those people are satisfied with the insurance they have and most likely will lose it because it is being provided through the employer and when you mandate the employer to pay for NHI they can’t afford to pay twice so they would be forced to drop the private insurance in favour of NHI that many people recognise to be inferior in many ways.”

Petition

One of Mr Wheatley’s suggestions is that people sign a petition to the government challenging NHI in its current form.

“I am in the process of preparing a petition. It should be prepared this week,” Mr Wheatley said, noting that the petition will be asking the government to go back to the drawing board.

The petition, he said, will ask the government to negotiate with the local insurance companies to see if they can come up with a package to ensure that the 40% of uninsured are insured.

“So it’s not that we don’t want people to be covered. We don’t want to turn a blind eye to our brothers and sisters who are not covered. We want to help them but we don’t want to help them in a way that would damage the 60% who already have insurance that they are satisfied with.

“And we don’t want to become a territory that takes authoritarian type, autocratic type actions and force things on people that they don’t want. That is not supposed to be the case in a democratic society.”

The former At Large candidate with the People’s Empowerment Party (PEP) at the June 8, 2015 elections added that some of the politicians pushing NHI are doing well and that they talk about it all the time but there are some people living from pay check to pay check and can’t afford the deductions.

IABVI blasts Government for ignoring its concerns

Meanwhile, the Insurance Association of the BVI has criticised government for ignoring concerns about NHI and has also challenged it to release its own figures showing how NHI would be viable.

And in response to certain statements in the media regarding the IABVI’s position on NHI, the IABVI issued a press release today, September 3, 2015 in which it made it clear that it believes all residents of the VI should have access to affordable healthcare, and have always stated that private and government sponsored plans should and must co-exist.

The IABVI has been criticised for allegedly expressing their “grouses” at the eleventh hour, however, it said this is because individual insurance firms had been putting their concerns to those responsible for NHI privately.

It said that all through the “consultation” process the private insurance companies have offered help, support, and advice but none of the offers of help were taken up and none of the advice offered by the insurance firms was heeded.

“Once the announcement to proceed with NHI was made, the IABVI tried to meet with the Minister concerned. The meeting did not take place, so given the impending launch of NHI, the IABVI decided to make the Public Statement on 25 August. Until this point it was the desire of the individual members of the IABVI to continue to work with the NHI team privately.”

The IABVI further said the Minister of Health and Social Development is correct to say that private insurance firms are supportive of the principle of NHI, (private companies cannot insure the uninsurable) but not supportive of how this programme is to be run “given our collective experience. We do not believe the plan is currently viable unless money is taken from other sources such as Government funding or the Social Security Fund or increased NHI contributions from the public in year 2 onwards in order to prop up the plan."

According to the IABVI, the current industry average cost of a claim is $150 per person per month in the VI and that under NHI, the IABVI would expect the cost of an average claim to be far higher as it incorporates a far broader health spectrum, (such as the elderly) than private insurance currently covers.

“We expect the average claim to increase to $200 or even $250 given the health requirements of the population The IABVI presumes that government has its own figures, similar to the ones we have produced, which show how they believe the numbers will add up. We would suggest they release those in order to reassure the public.”

Registration for NHI began on September 1, 2015. The scheme is expected to fully come on stream in January 2016.

48 Responses to “Petition being prepared to challenge NHI in current form”

  • :) (03/09/2015, 12:57) Like (29) Dislike (73) Reply
    I wish you luck mr noel lloyd wanna be.
    • the rock (03/09/2015, 14:34) Like (36) Dislike (26) Reply
      mr wheatley I am not satisfy with my local coverage, actually I said that wrong, I cannot afford the local coverage, so please let sleeping lions sleep!
    • Looking on (05/09/2015, 16:53) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      What is wrong in him want to be like Noel Lloyd wen he is fighting for you n me the small man who is hurting from these taxes the government forcing down our throats with the mega salary we are getting. if it was not for noel Lloyd the admin building was not going to be out there today I am pretty sure.
    • Truth is (06/09/2015, 19:08) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Right now the B.V.I needs another Noel Lloyd. Someone knowledgeable of whats going on and willing to stand up and fight even if it means in the physical form. Confucius thought that if a government is unjust then the people should rise up and overthrow it.
  • *roll eyes* (03/09/2015, 13:05) Like (45) Dislike (24) Reply
    I'll sign it.. hopefully something good will come outta it
  • I (03/09/2015, 13:37) Like (49) Dislike (38) Reply
    Thank you Sowande!!! I will definitely sign it!! I should have voted for you!! Next time!
  • blah (03/09/2015, 13:48) Like (31) Dislike (3) Reply
    https://www.change.org/p/dr-hon-d-orlando-smith-premier-of-the-virgin-islands-stop-the-nhi-and-go-back-to-the-drawing-board

    No more talk sign up and tell the NDP how you really feel about NHI
    • petition (03/09/2015, 14:58) Like (18) Dislike (1) Reply
      Thank you for the link. Please take the time to read and sign this petition if you agree with it as I did.

      https://www.change.org/p/dr-hon-d-orlando-smith-premier-of-the-virgin-islands-stop-the-nhi-and-go-back-to-the-drawing-board
  • wize up (03/09/2015, 13:51) Like (20) Dislike (32) Reply
    his pocket deep so man like him can chat fart: I currently pay 800.00 per month for the pass 7 years for insurance for my family: with this system and once it functions right my monthly health insurance bill will now be reduced: I can take that savings and put it in the bank....
    • Amethyst (03/09/2015, 15:39) Like (19) Dislike (1) Reply
      That's the thing, you will get what you pay for.
    • Bama (03/09/2015, 16:22) Like (17) Dislike (2) Reply
      Right! So you will use some of that savings in the bank to pay for medical services which NHI won't cover when you get sick.
    • Really? (03/09/2015, 18:23) Like (20) Dislike (2) Reply
      @wize up How you figure that? 20% or 40% co pay off island? I presently have NO or MINIMAL copay with my insurance provider in US facilities. A pregnancy will run you $30k-$75k for care over the duration of the pregnancy. And with that, you better pray you don't get complications and have to go of island - because under NHI you'll need to mortgage your home to pay your portion even right there in St Thomas.

      NHI will be good for your pockets - until you get sick!
    • @wize up (04/09/2015, 08:18) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
      Are you saying that your cost have been fixed for 7 years with your private insurance? How long will your cost be fixed with the NHI? What will your cost be in the next 7 years for NHI? Ok, you have a reduction in cost now - let's say that's true, you also have a reduction is access to medical facilities of your choice and a reduction in medical benefits. If you are overseas and you get sick, what happens then if you don't have private insurance and are not able to go to a facility that is within the NHI network? You will have to pay all the money in full and then claim with the NHI and then they pay you back 60%. How long will it take to get your money back, do you know? Let say that the bill was $5000.00 - Can you afford to pay $5000 one time and then file a claim to wait for $3000.00 when you have other bills to pay? What may look like savings now will cost you more in the future. The cost of other things are rising as well - is there any price control over food, gas, rent, etc? What will the rising cost of the NHI look like? Will your monthly payments be 3.75% in 2 to 3 years or higher? Factor that in with all the rising cost and in 2 to 3 years you might have a different view of the NHI. So please bank what you see as savings now because you will be making some huge withdrawals in the future to pay for your own health care. Wize Up!
      • WOW!!! @wize up (04/09/2015, 13:50) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
        This is exactly what I have been trying to explain to others for at while. Paying the 3.75% from you salary is not the issue. The issue is when you have to going overseas and God forbid you get sick what are you going to do. Also bear in mind if you have to spend $5000.00 overseas it is not guaranteed that you will get back 40% of that amount because if the fees for that same service in the BVI is 3000.00 you will be only getting back 40% on 3000.00 not $5000.00.

        I use my private insurance overseas and had no problem. I got a child in the US and got a bill $0.00. I have gone to hospitals in the US and paid nothing.

        With NHI you will not be able to go overseas if the Board feels that you shouldn't meaning you do not have a choice to choose where you want to go. So you keep singing that tune I hope and pray it does not turn into crying when your really need medical attention and you have to dig deep into your pocket to pay for it. Unless of course you have a crystal ball that tells you that as a BV Islander you will not get ill or an expat that goes home for vacation and every thing goes well until you return to the BVI.
        • voter (06/09/2015, 08:06) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
          With NHI you pay a copay. With Govt BUPA deductible is $250 and $500 for family.
          Let's say god forbid one needs a major surgery or procedures and the bill is $200,000 overseas.
          With NHI you will pay $40,000 to $80,000 out of pocket depending on provider, with BUPA you would have paid either $250 or $500.

          People, that is what you need supplemental insurance for. If you have a catastrophic medical need your NHI copay will not only still be out of your reach but be enough to send you to financial ruin or to be begging for assistance. This is the same thing the scheme is touted to prevent.

          To all of those who think they can just not have supplemental insurance please think again!
  • True (03/09/2015, 15:00) Like (8) Dislike (35) Reply
    sign an online petition, change the world NOT. No one voted for you they chose NDP now get over it and get with the program as you have enough cash to afford private insurance this is about looking after everyone not just the privilaged that require the ones without insurance to do the menial jobs they won't but expect it to be done.
  • Bring it on (03/09/2015, 15:00) Like (22) Dislike (2) Reply
    Ready to sing and March !
  • political snitch (03/09/2015, 15:06) Like (5) Dislike (38) Reply
    is he trying to gain political mileage?
  • sorry (03/09/2015, 15:09) Like (55) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wize up... I agree with you that your monthly health premium would be much less for your family on NHI but the problems is does the BVI have the quality of medical services necessary to properly offer you protection in the case of serious illness. Are you free to go off island (without a board approving it) to seek a second opinion or even to get care if you find that the BVI does not have what is required for a family member? Think about it my friend cheaper is not always better. You get what you pay form, beware......
  • Amethyst (03/09/2015, 15:37) Like (18) Dislike (2) Reply
    I WILL DEFINITELY SIGN IT!!!!
  • Just my two cent (03/09/2015, 15:50) Like (39) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is Bi Water all over again. You all know from ever since that this was coming and you all (especially the insurance companies) did not voice your concerns, even when the election campaign was going on I hardly heard a peep from anyone. Now when it have a definite date you all want people to sign petition and come with facts and figures? Where was this when NHI was in the pipeline?

    Don't get me wrong I hate the fact that I have to fork out money but we needed to voice these concerns when government first announce it.
  • please (03/09/2015, 15:58) Like (1) Dislike (103) Reply

    Mr. Wanna Noel Lloyd Please go sit down. GO take ur family and y'all march. From on here talking Bull. You claim to be this smart person but obviously the people don't believe that and in elections they showed you.

    • Annoyed (04/09/2015, 06:57) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      This is what contributes to the falters and flaws in our territory! We need progress not Negativity!
    • right (04/09/2015, 15:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Thank you please! We had this same kicking up about the College and Social Security many years. They are working very well for us now. I agree, tell him to take a seat.
  • political snitch (03/09/2015, 17:01) Like (37) Dislike (9) Reply
    To show how these politicians are up to no good, why do you think that they didn't try to implement this before election? Think about it.
    • True (03/09/2015, 18:57) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      it was always scheduled to begin in September but the electorate forgot and now want to complain.
      • Lil (04/09/2015, 18:32) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
        Beause the Electorates have short term memories ...They were blinded by the ROAD WORKS and CRUISE PIER .............. If you REALLY look at the road works done it was just sections that were leading up to the Festival Venues and NOTHING more !!!!!! They fooled the people and really got up under their skin............Proving that NO Politition can be trusted !!!!!!!!! Crooks for life !!!!!!!!
    • Welsah (05/09/2015, 09:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      true that and did not said anything about no increase of wages because most if not all of them have business.no tricks no living but aint no man greater than the man above
  • reality (03/09/2015, 18:58) Like (28) Dislike (2) Reply
    How is it the government cannot deduct monies from the salary of the fathers paying child support but they can come up with an inurance deducting scheme from poor people.

    To the private doctors I can foresee you all not getting paid on time from government. I would suggest every citizen go to the private doctors everytime, the private hospital. Think about it.
  • wow (03/09/2015, 19:11) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Do you know if you have a pre-existing condition and you have to give up your existing insurance you're screwed.
    • not so sure (03/09/2015, 20:38) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
      Smh check to see if that is true. Insurances don't want to cover you if you have a pre-existing condition except it must have a high premium is that what any individual need? To tell you the truth if you are 65 and older crop smoke your pipe you may get a little money and a letter stating we can't cover you any more after all those years of payments that's the thanks you may get.

      It's time we seek to help our people and ourselves.
      Let's look beyond the current citation and help every one.
      • Music (04/09/2015, 02:14) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        Do all these critics of NHI and supporters of private insurance realise that come 65 or so they wont be able to be covered? And you will lose it when you retire if your employer has been paying it, unless you take on the cost yourself. We presume that NHI gives whole life cover?
        When a scheme like this is running workers pay in over their working life, and continue to be covered when they retire, with no more contributions. That is, seniors are covered by the working populations contributions. But what is the situation at the start up of the scheme? Will retirees be covered without any contributions? Or do they have to pay? If so, how much and to whom? By what means? None of these things have been explained.
    • voter (03/09/2015, 21:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      NHI covers pre-existing conditions. If you give up private and you have a new condition if you try to get another private insurance that won't be covered and NHI will be the bet you can get for that condition
  • Too much debt (03/09/2015, 22:33) Like (24) Dislike (2) Reply
    I would be willing to pay a small tax on my private health insurance that would help fund services for those who can't afford insurance. This is what other small islands do in order to prevent government bankruptcy while still having some money coming in to help those less fortunate. Not a huge tax, but a reasonable one. I am adamantly opposed to the nhi, it will bankrupt us.... And drive away corporate off shore businesses...
    • voter (03/09/2015, 22:53) Like (4) Dislike (9) Reply
      They didn't want that option because they want the option to send the money to the Peebles Financial Sinkhole

      This is a done deal and 5000 signatures can't stop it
  • Sat (04/09/2015, 02:08) Like (17) Dislike (1) Reply
    The minister and other members of his government have private insurance. As long as they are in service when they get sick they will be jet off to an overseas facility at the people's expense. Now they do not want the poorer people to be able to get health care abroad.always an outsider have to decide for the people of these islands.First it was glover park now it is a Dr. Theodore. Got to be one of their friends from UWI. What are his credentials on health care and health insurance? When the minister himself took ill he was quickly sent overseas. Tell us who paid the bill.Some who served are still riding on taxpayers backs with all the perks. Is this country just for a few. They are always in the air on tax payers money claiming they are working for the country. Let us see results from those trips and the benefits.
  • Fed Up (04/09/2015, 07:32) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    just imagine no increase in wages but NHI is mandatory bully from the same people who came at people door step begging votes.we all need to stand up against this and sign the petition
  • student (04/09/2015, 07:56) Like (5) Dislike (13) Reply
    “I am in the process of preparing a petition. It should be prepared this week.”

    If only I could get my exam from him back in a week....
  • W*F (04/09/2015, 22:28) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    We should boycott and just don't register.
    • Boo (06/09/2015, 15:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Nice. then you won't get any health care coverage as the private plans would have evaporated. NHI by law is now every legal resident's primary health insurance. Good luck with that. The rest of us will be registering and who can afford will get secondary insurance.
  • ? To Ronnie (05/09/2015, 05:46) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    this the big concern "the review board" Here is the big. question, does the review board by law has a limited time to respond in terms of approving or disapproving over seas care applications? If not it needs to be. I will suggest 2 days. We don't need a situation where applications or hidden over looked, ignored base on who you are. We need the law to guaratee us equal attention, once that is done I will be comforted, I think NHI is a good thing. it will be comforting if the law give the review board a time dead line to review and respond to overseas care applications
  • rules matter (05/09/2015, 05:58) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hope NHI don't end up like the Immigration review board. Where there are no rules and applications stay there for years, been ignored, no one says nothing, where spite and bias is the norm. we need rules to avoid spite and bias and to ensure fairness in a timely manner.
  • How do you know which is better without trying both? (05/09/2015, 07:32) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    private insurance fill with bias and spite also. If someone like you they do all they can to help you. If someone doesn't like you they do all they can to delay your care. there will always be biases. and favourtizm where whenever people in position have to determine our faith. . I am for NHI, I cant candemn it before trying it. lets give it a chance. if its not working vote thsm out and put others in.
  • civil servants (05/09/2015, 19:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Can civil servants sign petitions without being chastised.... I seriously want too but afraid
    • Boo (06/09/2015, 09:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Shouldn't be a problem as soon after that you would no longer be a Civil Servant.
      • @ Boo (06/09/2015, 21:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        Then I guest you and everyone else will be paying for my NHI... Cool no problem at all your right...
  • Binocs (08/09/2015, 05:14) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do not be fooled. This government is the reason why we have to pay that deductible to Bupa. They never do things in the right manner. No insurance is going to renew for a short period without notice without a cost. That is why we suffer for their dumb deals. They claim they are educated. Show it in your dealings.


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.