‘VI population too small for NHI’ – Hon J. Alvin Christopher (R2)
“It will have to be higher,” he said in a comment to this news site yesterday September 24, 2014.
“It will have to be much higher than 3.75 percent contributed by the employee. I think the population is too small in order to service and maintain the system as proposed,” he said.
Following actuarial studies of the cost of health services and of administering the NHI, a contribution rate of 7.5 percent of income up to a stated ceiling was determined. This is intended to be shared equally between employer and employee so that each group contributes 3.75 percent.
“Without getting the NHI in place they would not be able to open the new Peebles Hospital,” said Hon Christopher,” he said.
“The way it is structured now in my opinion it is supposed to cover the debt [for the hospital],” he said. He noted that the [British Virgin Islands Health Services Authority] is a statutory body by itself which is supposed to be self-financing and self-sustaining.
“My personal view based on the numbers, I wonder if it will be able to keep the system going,” he said.
“One of the things you would find with subsidized health care, everything will become three times the amount and this is one of the things that might happen in the system here,” he said.
“Those who are paying into the system will ensure that every time they have a concern they will visit the doctor,” he said.
“The whole idea of NHI might be a good idea but the size of the contributors is where my concern lies,” he said.
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23 Responses to “‘VI population too small for NHI’ – Hon J. Alvin Christopher (R2)”
I would continue to collect coins and not steal them.
away the Insurance that people have and give them less.? It is not right.
The naysayers said the same thing to Lavity when he wanted to introduce Social Security. Alvin bread is buttered on both sides and then some. What does he care.
The better solution is to mandate employers to have their employees have insurance and then tax that policy to have a fund for those who don't work (seniors, youth, indigents)