Registration for controversial NHI begins Sept 1, 2015
Mr Barry told Virgin Islands News Online that the NHI team is currently testing the registration process to ensure it is working as expected and at the same time is in constant contact with employers ensuring that they are informed on what steps they need to follow to register as an employer and employee.
“First we used our internal employees and now we are using the information that we have from Social Security. We are using some of the employees names in the test,” said Mr Barry who also noted, “Well it’s working to our expectation.”
He said that at this stage employers need to follow the NHI website closely as it is being updated with the information as to the steps and instructions that they need to be aware of when it comes to registration. “So stay tuned to the website www.vinhi.vg,” he emphasised.
Flip Flopping over?
Since the Government of the VI announced plans to institute NHI there have been many changes in dates for its implementation and were accused of constantly ‘flip flopping’ as a result.
However, it was back in April that Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton said the National Health Insurance (NHI) was not going to come on stream until probably September 2015 and to date they are holding fast to this.
Speaking publicly on the issue on a radio talk show during mid-2014, Mr Barry had promised that the NHI would have been on stream from January 2015. Barry had said private insurers were set to be on board with NHI and would have been offering options to allow persons to continue their private insurance to supplement what the NHI is offering.
'NHI unaffordable'- critics
Critics of the NHI still believe the programme will cause people to give up one insurance over the other as retaining both will be hard on their pockets.
A woman, who had previously expressed her opinion on the scheme to this news site, said her concerns are valid because of the economic strain being felt by the majority.
The resident explained that since in the initial discussions of the NHI it was indicated that it would be compulsory for residents to sign up for NHI but that many persons would not be in a financial position to keep their current insurances.
Persons are still of the view that more consultations are needed with the public and the government of the day needs to come forward to tell the people exactly what is going on and where they are with NHI.
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15 Responses to “Registration for controversial NHI begins Sept 1, 2015”
So it will cost more than twice as much, and the cover will not be so good.
It beggars belief!!!!!
FULL SPEED AHEAD RUSHING TO POCKET OUR HARD-EARNED SALARIES. GET IT TOGETHER BEFORE DRAGGING US INTO THIS MESS OF AN INSURANCE SCHEME.
Hmmmm
For those mentioning Obamacare: “Americans who can afford to purchase insurance and choose not to do so will have to pay an income tax “penalty”. This is officially a tax, but is also referred to as a “fee”, “penalty”, or “mandate”. The way the ObamaCare mandate works is that any non-exempt American without minimum essential coverage will owe a per-month fee. The fee is $325 per adult and $162.50 per child (up to $975 for a family) or 2% of your taxable income a year. The monthly fee is 1/12 of the total annual fee (example: $325/12= $27.08 per month). The total penalty amount cannot exceed the national average of the annual premiums of a “bronze level” health insurance plan on ObamaCare exchanges.”