fp Turks and Caicos

After the meeting, NHIB CEO Brian Hogan said he welcomes the questions, as in many cases, it forces you to revisit things issues that offer an opportunity for improvement. “Of all the insurance plans I have been involved with, those which were designed to serve the community in which they operate were the most successful. That is what we are doing here in the Turks and Caicos.” Hogan said at a town hall meeting they held in South Caicos several weeks ago, “we received some of the best questions. We walked away with a good list of recommendations we will discuss at our next meeting.”

Although the plan, written into law, is certainly here to stay, Hogan says there is a mechanism in place to allow people to have input into how it will work. “NHIB is our plan, it is not perfect, not yet, but we can change it.” Individuals who do have concerns are encouraged to state their position in writing and Hogan will bring all those issue before the board. “We will listen and we will act.”

One of the groups with the largest concerns about the new social health insurance plan seem to be the self-employed. Hogan said self employed persons amount to approximately fifteen hundred individuals, the majority of which have already signed up. In fact, to date, 400 employers have submitted 11,000 enrollment forms.

The concern for the self-employed is the share they are required to pay. At present, every self-employed person is required to pay a flat sum of $250 per month. “Some time ago we had meetings with members of the community and it was decided that $5,000 per month of income was the number the majority of the self employed persons made. Five percent of which is $250 per month. For an employed person the same applies, they pay 2.5% which is $125 per month and the employer pays $125 per month.”

Although this was the decision made in order to be equitable to the majority, NHIB has offered those who are self employed and earn below the average $5000 thresh hold to come in and find an amiable agreement which they can pay. NHIB is offering monthly sums to the self employed in the amounts of $250, $150 or $50 based on their proof of income.

Hogan says so far they have been able to find a resolution for all those who have come in with their concerns about their payment. He encourages all those who do have issue to visit the office and speak directly to the staff. “We want to be fair, practical and equitable to everyone.”

Another category of individuals who may feel offset by the plan are double income families. The plan calls for every individual who works to contribute to the plan. Any individual who does contribute earns coverage for their immediate family, however in the case where two parents work, they will both be required to pay.

The system does call for residents of the country to dig into their pockets to pay for a health care system which did not exist before. For many, this will offer them comprehensive health care coverage they never had at a very reasonable cost. For others, they will have to consider reducing their current private health insurance to subsidize the costs of the new health care plan. For those who currently carry private health insurance, Hogan explained, “With my personal plan, I was able to simply increase my deductible reducing my monthly payment by significantly more than the amount I am now paying for NHIP.”