| Work permit holders to get equal health coverage | | Print | |
| Written by Richard Green/richard@fptci.com | |||
| Thursday, 17 November 2011 12:42 | |||
 A proposal to deny work permit holders coverage for off-island health care treatment has been dropped in response to public outcry about the measure that would have saved about $500,000 a year, government announced Nov. 16. “Everyone who pays into the Turks and Caicos Islands health system, regardless of whether they are a Belonger, Permanent Resident Certificate (holder) or work permit holder will receive the same standard of care depending upon their individual medical needs,” said Judith Campbell, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services. “It was never our intention to disadvantage people on work permits who are supporting the development of the TCI or any particular group of people living in the TCI. But we must reduce costs and increase sustainability.” Work permit holders, businesses that employ them and many local residents objected to the proposed reduction in coverage. Work permit holders — more than half the country’s population — will continue to receive the same coverage, but the government says it intends to strengthen the work permit application process by implementing “appropriate” medical screening for temporary workers and encourage them to get supplementary insurance. No details of the intended medical requirements were explained in the press release announcing the changes, but a 35-percent increase in work permit fees is set to begin Dec. 1. The other new changes to the health care system announced recently will apply to everyone, including an increase from 5 percent to 6 percent of salary paid to the National Health Insurance Plan for medical coverage, a monthly minimum payment of $50, and a $10 per month fee per dependent for up to three children. The changes are aimed at addressing the $42 million annual health care deficit that government has to pay. The biggest costs are the amounts paid to InterHealth Canada Limited (ICL) — $20 million for infrastructure and equipment costs and $24 million for clinical services to operate the hospitals on Providenciales and Grand Turk. NHIP currently raises only $19 million. Government contracts with ICL will be reviewed in 2012 in hopes of finding ways at lowering costs. ICL says work has already begun to find ways to reduce costs of the two hospitals it operates in the TCI. For some time now, NHIP has been sending patients who need care they can’t receive here to regional medical facilities instead of more expensive facilities in the U.S., significantly reducing costs. Expanding services offered at the two hospitals also is expected to help the bottom line.
|
Related Articles
Entertainment: Your Island Guide
|
Top things to do in April Top things to do in April 1. From Golfing to More... |
|
Valentine’s Day Cup 2013 model sailboat races The Middle Caicos Sailboat Association will once again present the annual model sailboat races at More... |
|
Lime and Tourist Board announce weekly Fish Fry The Turks & Caicos Tourist Board & LIME partner with Cultural Fish Fry The Turks & Caicos Tourist More... |
|
Turks & Caicos Reef Fun to host dazzling evening The Turks and Caicos Reef Fund will host its 2nd Annual Cocktail Party Reception on Jan. 26 at the More... |
|
Fashion Glam at Regent Palms The Regent Palms is inviting everyone to an evening of fashion and glamour at their event being More... |
Latest Community News
|
Cholera Clinical Management Training Held in the TCI Healthcare professionals from the TCI Health Services were trained in the Clinical Management of More... |
|
Illegal Haitian immigrants Intercepted Illegal Haitian Immigrants Intercepted, to the Repatriated According to the Ministry of Border More... |
|
Ministry of Health Reminding public about sanitation Health surveillance teams attached to the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MOHHS) have More... |
|
Scholarship applications now being accepted The Ministry of Education has announced that they are now accepting applications for scholarships More... |
|
History and traditions stay alive at the 13th annual boat races in Middle Caicos The 2013 Valentines Day Cup welcomed many fun loving residents and tourists to Middle Caicos’ More... |