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by pltm
(PLTM) - As concerns continue to rise over businesses in the Territory taking advantage of the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, the issue is now in the hands of the politicians to discuss and address the dilemma, as soon and as best as they can.
District Two Representative, Hon. Melvin 'Mitch' Turnbull has expressed deep concerns on the matter, noting that local insurance and care providers are abusing the system and they should be fined for their actions.
He spoke to businesses who are maliciously increasing their rates and informing customers that they will not be covered because NHI is their provider.
“It is absolutely ridiculous that we have some of the same companies and persons that would say that NHI would bankrupt this Territory and that it would fail, and this and that, and these are the same ones abusing the system.”
In an example, Hon, Turnbull explained, “If I have ABC insurance and I produce that card after getting tended to by a physician, that is exactly who I want to pay my coverage. I did not provide my NHI card.”
He added, “For these insurance companies to write back to the physicians and say they will not pay until NHI covers it is absolutely an abuse of the system.”
Hon. Turnbull noted that if this practice occurred anywhere else in the Caribbean or the world, it would be considered a criminal offense and charges would be brought against the proprietors of these companies, and fines would be executed.
“My difficulty is trying to understand how is it that we have something that we can now call our own, that we have an avenue where we have covered members of the society and this Territory that do not usually have access to insurance, and those of us that are in a position to work alongside the system are the very ones to take advantage of it.” Hon. Turnbull went on to pledge his support to the Minister of Health, Hon. Ronnie Skelton, noting that whatever needs to be done to address the matter, he is willing to assist.
“Whatever needs to be done to address this direct abuse of the NHI, whatever regulations, whatever fines we need to put in place, we must do so. We cannot continue to allow persons and businesses here in the Territory to continue what they are doing. At the end of the day, the only people that would feel hurt is our people.”
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