NHI is failing, almost worthless now — Premier
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley has suggested that the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme is no longer useful to residents, particularly those seeking overseas medical care.
Dr Wheatley was at the time speaking during a political debate for party leaders at the H Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) ahead of the elections on April 24. Candidates were asked whether they believe making the NHI mandatory was the right thing to do, and what changes they would make with the currently existing system.
Among other things, the premier argued that NHI is failing and needs much more than a tweak. He contended that one of the biggest challenges with the programme is that most of the NHI monies were being directed to private healthcare providers.
Dr Wheatley said although he had no problem with private healthcare providers, he would have suggested a system that would have allowed persons who can afford it to keep their private health insurance.
“Now you have a NHI and you are not sure when you go abroad whether it’s going to work for you. You’re not sure whether they’re going to accept it,” Premier Wheatley said. “And your health is on the line because, of course, there’s so many individuals out there who have not been able to use the NHI. Depending on where you go, it’s almost worthless right now.”
The Virgin Islands Party (VIP) Chairman further explained that although many business owners are indicating on paper that they are paying into the NHI system, many are truly unable to do so since that may put them at risk of going out of business.
Dr Wheatley urged that lawmakers go back to the drawing board and come up with a system whereby a much smaller tax is introduced to allow persons to be able to keep their private health insurance. He also endorsed having this tax being able to fund persons who can’t afford their own healthcare, while keeping NHI as a public option.
I asked hundreds of questions
In the meantime, Progressive Virgin Islands Movement (PVIM) leader, Ronnie Skelton, has insisted that he can make the NHI work since he was there at the time of the programme’s inception, while serving as Health Minister in a previous administration.
“I asked hundreds of questions when the system was being presented to us, so I know some of the intricacies of the system,” Skelton said during the debate. “But trust me, you cannot allow your neighbours to go without the resources — the financial resources to access healthcare.
He added: “That’s what NHI is and if we need to do anything else in this country, just like we did education, we need to fix healthcare, fix NHI, so your people can get access to healthcare when they need it.”
National Democratic Party (NDP) Chairman, Marlon Penn has also said the NHI programme should remain, arguing that there is still some level of viability.
“If we have all the persons who are owing pay up into NHI, NHI will be in the black right now,” Penn said. “So it says that, despite the challenges that NHI has, it has a level of viability that we need to ensure that it survives.”
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Cancel it and stop takin money from the people!!! Go back to the drawing board and come back when you all have a plan that WILL WORK
It is actually necessary, but like any system after implementation, there needs to be an assessment and further adjustments are necessary for sure, including setting limits on how much the GREEDY doctors can charge. Also be serious and expose employers who deduct and pay nothing.
But in all honesty, this Premier and his VIP had the BEST opportunity to fix the NHI and they did NOTHING, just imagine. Now he on social platform spewing garbage to get re-elected?? Like really dog???
Publish a list of Employers who are in arrears and the amount owed.
He’ll never do that because it’s more than a few of them running for election in his party right now.
I got your point to publish the names, but that comes from a place of ill intent . As it will achieve nothing, but hatred, and malicious practices. That is not good for business, therefore it will be best to make a payment plan with the employer and keep the good graces with them. No country function without better relations with business people.
Publish the names of defaulters and amount owed.
Lets start with m—- m—— who is the healthcare ministers brother. He deducting money from his employees pay for years and dont pay NHI, SS or Tax.
Yet nothing has been done to try and make it any better. Just pumping more money into a failing system.
Until all government employees and elected officials are on the system as their only health insurance it will fail. Same with Social Security; put all of the Government employees and elected officials on it and suddenly the pyout benefit could double or triple, and it likely will as those new subscribers will demand it!!
Chase every company and person in arrears and fine them heavily!!!
Many people are grateful for NHI. Because of it a lot of people are alive today, it has been a help to many. If NHI was a deciding factor as to who I vote for, the candidate who wants to get rid of NHI would not get my vote.
I could take a good guess at who owns the businesses that dont pay into the NHI. Members of the Government and their relatives and cronies no doubt.
And I also guess that they deduct NHI from their employees wages
The next government needs to prosecute non payers.
And publicise their names
You are so correct. Many can make this good guess. It is another example of corruption.
Then why did your VIP Government took millions out of social security that could have gone to NHI and Hospital to build houses in the middle of a pandemic.
$11 mil of the grant went directly to NHI, plus an additional $10 mil, hen add the $43 mil that Government gives the program annually. NHI received $64million in that one year from the VIP Government, which is why the Premier can say it’s not working because that’s a lot of money. The main issue is that the prices being charged by private providers are crazy and I doubt the funding for government employees, kids and persons over 65yrs old have been properly factored in.
Instead of pumping money into something he deems worthless he should have implemented a better plan because a lot of people need insurance and depend on NHI.
is election time so he want look good , mr you need to go u and your whole vip crew sick of you all . bad luck for the country
What I never understood about NHI is that people like myself who make less than 40K a year has to pay in 7%, our employer pays 3.5% and we pay the remaining 3.5%.
Why doesn’t anyone who makes 100k a year pay in 7% or 3.5% of their salary?
Seems like it was designed to tax the poor yet we all get the same benefits.
Every one paying the same percentage regardless of salary. The only thing is that there is a cap for the calculations of about 80k. So no one pays more than around $280 a month
THE PREMIER WAS TOO NEGATIVE
It was so sad to hear the Hon. Premier making such a poor comment. NHI help and is still helping so much people. hon. Marlon Penn make an excellent comment. the BVI is a sick community and we need to invest more in primary health care, offer more services at our health care facility and for people to pay their contributions into NHI. His government needed to fix most of the problems with NHI but did nothing. talking nonsense that the NHI card is useless oversees, how in the world you can use a national plan insurance oversees just like that without first going through NHI network? Most of those statements were lies. I am kindly asking you journalists out there to do some fact checks on those statements that were made at the debate
He is right, we have to go back to the drawing board with NHI. He never said to get rid of it, he need we need to create a better system that can help the people better and NOT bankrupt us. I have had many challenges seeking urgent treatment with NHI. Thank God I have private insurance as well! It must be fixed!
NHI sole purpose was to get the working class to pay for the healthcare of the idle bums and the elderly.
It was so sad to hear the Hon. Premier making such a poor comment. NHI help and is still helping so much people. hon. Marlon Penn make an excellent comment. the BVI is a sick community and we need to invest more in primary health care, offer more services at our health care facility and for people to pay their contributions into NHI. His government needed to fix most of the problems with NHI but did nothing. talking nonsense that the NHI card is useless oversees, how in the world you can use a national plan insurance oversees just like that without first going through NHI network? Most of those statements were lies. I am kindly asking you journalists out there to do some fact checks on those statements that were made at the debate
Raise the maximum allowable contribution; schedule what doctors can charge; mKE SURE only THOSE PAYING IN CAN USE THE SYSTEM.
That is exactly what they do in France. And many other places, Singapore etc, so its not a crazy idea.
it is failing because you fools didn’t the stop the doctors from jacking up the prices
I agree with you, but I wouldn’t call them fools. Fee structures should be put in place like yesterday.
Additionally, I would like Mrs. Lorna Smith to address this issue from the podium. Does he that drink the milk by buckets full really care …for our health? For our country? What says you Lorna??? Talk to him …it should be an easy fix!
A native Virgin Islander to the Nth generation
NHI helps people who did not have an insurance before. I had my excellent insurance paying $540 monthly and my employer paid & $120 monthly. Come NHI my employer cancelled my insurance for NHI. The same inzurance company quoted me $1300 monthly for coverage after NHI and for overseas. The quotes from other companies were as high as $1700 MONTHLY. Ronnie thinks is everyone making money like him can afford those prices. They should have left us with our insurance and introduce a 4% health tax to fund people who do not have an insurance.
This the premier talking?? The same one that gave away a chunk of our economy that could have gone to nhi when he gave away our water rights? NHI is very helpful to a lot of people who would not be able to afford Healthcare or private insurance otherwise. Even if some reforms are needed, obviously the sitting government for the last four years did not have a clue on where the hell to start because they were too busy doling out pensions funds to themselves in the greedy bill during a pandemic. So much about caring for the peoples health. When has this VIP circus ever rolled out any sustainable initiative to promote good health. We have people on pension who cannot afford to buy fruits and vegetables after paying their bills. No assistance, no consideration for inflation! We have teachers who cannot afford to buy fruits and vegetables after paying their bills. No increments! We have young people who cannot afford to buy fruits and vegetables. No 1000 jobs in no 1000 days. So the problem goes beyond NHI. If you cared one bit to promote a healthy lifestyle and make life easier for the people instead of having to stress over life’s hardships under a VIP government, then we would have seen this in the last four years. The failure is not the NHI programme. ANOTHER LIE!!! Good riddance to the lying and losing VIP party.
All NHI did was make real health insurance more expensive in the BVI… Now you force this mediocre NHI on people if you want actual heath coverage that can really help you both here or abroad you need to go pay extra on top of the 7% of our income being taken to fund this useless garbage that is NHI. Get rid of it!
It’s useless for major medical diagnosis like dialysis treatment etc., NHI is excellent for the small stuff. Say healthy and don’t willfully destroy yourselves.
The Government should use the tax collected from the NHI to fund the BVIHSA and provide general and specialist healthcare at the hospital and community clinics. Persons seeking private medical health care should use their personal insurance.
Noone takes my private health care anymore as they can charge MORE to the NHI, thats a ludicrous situation, it should be mandatory for people with private healthcare to use that first not my companies private scheme get fat while NHI bears the brunt of all the cost to greedy clinic.
Let’s see. This man been throwing sand in people’s eyes, screaming for independence. Now he’s cornered and he admits the NHI is broken. When you can’t get basic healthcare, who give a **rat’s ass** about independence?? Tell this man to shut up and go find himself a doctor to curing his l**ng.
and being abused , taken
advantage of will have problems / for example the ( chickenhawk ) from VG and the coach along with his puppets maneuvered around the employers who do not pay ntheir tax to their government and went straight to the throats of innocent people who worked hard and honestly to make an honest living , to DOUBLE TAX THEM , he was watching what they did with their own money and close their eyes ? to all the employers who was not doing their FAIR SHARE OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT ? and to add insult to injury the COACH BRAGGED HOW HE GOT 2 MILLION OFF THEM ISLAND PEOPLE , ( I thought all Caribbean people were brothers and sisters / after all WE share the same ANCESTRY, or MAYBE some missed the slave ships and FLEW OVER ? watch a set of HYPOCRITES ?
95 % of the bloggers was against this in the first place!!!!
Why take away people insurance when they were happy with it?
There was a better way to lookout for the unfortunate in society.
the debt is due to the fact that there is now a sports centre open under the gusie of treatment at the Pierpark where everyone uses their card for “treatment” to use the gym, its a joke, it should be only used at the clinics and hospital, at all private facilities people should use their own insurance or monies. This is the only way the spiralling debt can be sorted out, in my opinion. This would also allow the hospital and clinics to be fully funded.
NHI was designed and made to benefit the private private healthcare providers…PERIOD! Not the government or the people of the BVI!
all of the actuary reports before it was initiated said it would never work, then the providers doubled their prices. scrap it, let us go back to our old insurances. people having to wait months for approval for important things, all the while they are getting sicker.
The government needs to look at improving and expanding the Mental Health department, its expertise and psychological treatments of public health care here in the BVI, including a greater prominence on treating and maintaining wellness in the area of chemical dependency.. As, the current approach seems quite lacking..
The current system is woefully inadequate. And, some practioneers appear unable to take personal opinions of certain diseases out of the practice and profession, its afflicted and sufferers.
Unfortunately, stigmatzation is a real and cripplig reality of the day existing within the very division charged with treating those diseases and the afflicted socety still frowns upon.
This is a very seriously overlooked yet woefully needed component to the general mental health of a vast segment of the population..
The Territory is too small to sustain an NHI system. Most countries that have (relatively) successful NHI schemes have populations that number in the tens of millions. There’s only about 20-25000 tax payers here with a median salary of something like $ 2000 a month. It has not helped that many employers have withheld NHI contributions but have failed to pay it into the system with impunity.
I don’t believe in getting rid of NHI , they design is not a good one.
When such percentage of the doctors charged: set an amount the doctors could charge. Reduced the percentage amount to 2.00% for employees.
demographic of persons: Person who disable,aged 70 and over should be covered by the government. And remove all other from the government payment.
and the environment that they can used the cards. Create an international card only for those who have existing problems, and those who have immediate problems such as accidents.
What a platform to run on. After we forced you to cancel your private insurance and made L—-‘s brother and others rich due to our incompetence, we will leave you stranded paying your medical bills on your own.
They say they Paying 80% for raiation treatment when you pay and submit your receipt they only giving 60%.
At robbers. NHI also said if you use a provider that is out of Network you will be reimbursed at 60%. when reporting please tell the full truth.
I had my discussion with them before Radiation is 80%
radiation is not done here THEY NHI say the cost to do it in Antigua is $20000 and they NHI will pay $16000 and the person co- pay is $4000. other stuff is 60% but radiation is 80% that’s the truth from my info from NHI. The person had a meeting with all the big ones at NHI before go away for treatment and the person get it done for total cost of $7000 in another country saving NHI a whole lot of money and yet when the bills were submitted they only pay out 60%. The same big ones says they will look into it because it was supposed to be 80% until now nothing was heard again from them.
something wrong with this NHI business you pay so much money every month and you still has to go away to get a doctor to have a child or some sickness does it make sense? goverment needs to bring real doctors that the pacients feels secure and comfortable to pay people has to to one doctor to the next!!! what is wrong in this place ? for what to pay
Yet to read anything constructive on here. Whole heap a crap from some of you bloggers. You all need to do some research into how insurance operates. NHI has been a lifesaver for a lot of persons. And they are grateful. You can’t up and go overseas for care without Pre authorization from any insurance company. All companies have what is called in network providers that you can see without pre authorization for some aspects of treatment where you copay would be lower than if you see an Out of Network provider. It can get complicated. Your copay would be higher. Some insurances may even drop a provider who was an in network if they are not happy with their service or their Fee structure.
There have been abuse and ‘highway robbery’ by some BVI providers through no fault of theirs. It was the Government of the day who failed to do their adequate research and due diligence
before implementation. And the present Government had the opportunity to rectify the inefficiencies. But no, they looked after themselves first, now on the campaign trail chatting bull. NHI can work and should.
Just need some tweaking.
Good luck sorting this one out and keeping your votes. So many practitioners are benefitting from the extortionate fees. When you look at what is being charged for specific services it is clear that these are being hiked well above the normal rate if persons paid out of pocket. This is one of the biggest stories of corruption that hasn’t yet been told. And all – past, current and wannabe politicians benefitting from it.
We need to provide something to level the access to health care for everyone but this isn’t it. Review the current system and invest heavily in prevention as lifestyle factors can make a significant difference to whether we thrive or suffer.