Hospital, other gov’t agencies financially abusing seniors?
Second District Representative Melvin “Mitch” Turnbull is sounding the alarm over what he describes as a troubling pattern of financial abuse targeting the territory’s senior citizens.
Turnbull accused the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) of charging persons aged 65 and over, who should be exempt from hospital and clinic fees under the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme.
Government policy has long held that uninsured persons aged 65 and over (along with dependent children and persons of insufficient means) are to be subsidised such that they should not pay standard hospital fees.
However, Turnbull stated that, despite the written policy, seniors are still receiving unexpected bills from Dr D. Orlando Smith Hospital and satellite clinics across the territory.
He revealed that he has personally witnessed seniors in his constituency receiving bills from the BVIHSA when they should not be charged, describing the situation as a form of “financial abuse.”
He also called out other government agencies that are engaging in this practice as well.
“Some of them are being charged after the age of 65. Receiving bills when they are exempt from having to pay any cost whether at the hospital or local clinics, even electricity. We must do better to ensure that these persons that have laid the foundation for us are protected,” Turnbull said. “This is a form of financial abuse against our seniors which needs to be curtailed.”
The legislator also called for a stronger social safety net, including an age-care benefit, a support grant for seniors on fixed incomes, and community-based programmes that provide healthcare, maintenance, and companionship. He noted that the cost of in-care living for seniors can range between $10,000 and $15,000 per month—an expense far beyond the reach of most retirees.
Turnbull’s comments come amid growing public concern about the financial struggles of the territory’s elderly population. Many seniors have complained about the rising cost of food, healthcare, and utilities, while relying on small pensions or limited public assistance. The government has recently moved to increase monthly assistance grants and expand benefits under the Public Assistance (Amendment) Act, but advocates say more needs to be done.
Turnbull said he intends to continue pressing for policy changes and stronger enforcement to ensure that seniors receive the exemptions and protections they are entitled to under the law. “We cannot just say we want to protect our seniors,” he said. “We must take the extra step to actually do it.”
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Mitch , you got to keep hollering it out , too much advantages are being taken of us , and now we have a chicken hawk as ” health whatever ” ,with a whole set of fancy words and nothing positive is being done / maybe too much Johnny walker
In order for us to take the good gentleman seriously he should not have defended the grossly outrageous salary increase for himself and his legislative colleagues but advocated that this increase go to seniors that he so cares about !!
Please go and take several seats!!
That’s why I glad how the premier have you all.
Seniors getting abused financially and he tell them go look wuk.
All who vote VIP and corner lady I glad for everything ayo getting. Stop complaining this is your democratic vote in process.
“voting has consequences”
Maybe the HOA13 could start a fund for the elderly and use their excessive salaries to pay for the care of the elderly.
That is where the money should have gone in the first place.
Not the pockets of the HOA13.
They all going to make enough extra out of the corrupt secret airport project to fund the elderly, the poor and the disadvantaged. But we know they will only fund themselves.
The dirty secret HOA13.
This is what we have as leadership in the BVI? Pandering? This man has been elected for 10 years and has not put forward a single idea to increase revenue and opportunities but always crying. In 10 years this is his 3rd political party, always involved with confusion and complaining, never about anything positive or helpful. He was much more useful before being elected, don’t take my word for it the record is there to see.
What is not helpful or positive about advocacy for our Seniors and indigent?
Foolish short sighteb voters will still
Vote them back . Because as an individual you are benefiting from the government and 75 % of the population is suffering means you who support hate justice
Selfish set o people from the 13 right down
The nature of the majority do not wxpect chsnges
Six of onr half dozen of the next
Mitch is my peeps but this is wrong. Hospital doesn’t charge seniors and Indigent. People that utilize hospital services majority have no conscious. They come in sick, ER and for day surgeries. Sickness and disorders they do to themselves. Get treated get well and literally refuse to pay nothing but flagrant behavior. Seniors 65 years are older are not charged for services. But you can’t run up hospital charges in you 50’s or early 60’s don’t pay your obligations then wait until you 65 to tell hospital you not paying and shouldn’t have too. NONSENSE.
EXACTLY!!!!! They sit around listening to nonsense and repeat it without checking to see what is really going on. This ‘FREE’ lifestyle is killing the place slowly.
Help us get more money.
How is the hospital expected to function, when government subvention can berely cover salries
Check out the cost of seniors having to pay for medical every year and only getting renewed for one year versus those who pay 35 dollars for three years this is the treatment of seniors in this country get used and discarded. Remember what goes around comes around.
That men over 60/65 still have to pay for PSA checks for their prostrate! Wtf is going on with NHI?!?! On top of that you need to call NHI to get monthly approval for meds for seniors – the system is in shambles and needs overhauling post haste!
Those seniors wo go to the center have to pay a member fee of 15 dollars a month. The seniors barely have money from their pension
Seniors paying full fee cuz we gah pay for all the unlicensed and uninsured scooter accidents
If they wore the legally required helmets that would keep the costs down. Although fatalities and not injuries also keep costs down.
SIMPLE) THE SAME WAY SLOWANDE RAISED HIS AND THE REST OF POLITICIANS SALARIES , HE GOT IT DONE WITH EASE , YOU DIDN’T COMPLAIN , ARE YOU ONE OF THEM ?.
Price hospital is higher than private now I don’t even know for what smh
Pensioners are abuse too but they are not hospitalized. How you asked?
Financially Financial!
We need our increase too more promises without action