Meeting you halfway! BVIHSA announces debt relief programme

The BVI Health Services Authority has moved to ease the burden of medical debt it said is being faced by some residents of the community through the launch of its debt relief programme.

The Authority has offered between 10% to 45% off their hospital bill depending on the balance owed as part of their efforts at making overdue medical bills easier to pay.

The initiative, which is also aimed at meeting persons halfway who are struggling to meet their financial obligations to the BVIHSA, reportedly came from consideration of the lingering hardship faced across the territory post-COVID-19.

“The Health Services is the community’s medical caretaker. We want only the best for the people of the territory and even though the organisation is facing financial challenges, we wanted to still extend a supportive hand,” Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr June Samuel explained.

According to the BVIHSA, members of the public have an opportunity to negotiate full payment and the best deal through their relief programme and can do so by upgrading their existing payment plan.

The BVIHSA said its Debt Collection Unit is offering payment plans with up to four years of repayment options.

While some conditions apply, it was mentioned that the debt repayment programme applies to all hospital bills up to April 30, 2023. To take advantage of the debt relief programme persons can visit the Collections Department of the Dr D Orlando Smith Hospital as well as call or email the institution.

Chairman of the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA), Moleto Smith said last year that the National Health Insurance (NHI), in its current state, had not been meeting the financial demands of the Authority.