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by pltm
(PLTM) - After months of inquiry as to the legality of suspending benefits for employees, due to their employer’s delinquency, the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme has now changed position, stating that they are not capable of implementing such a block.
During the deliberations of the 2017 Standing Finance Committee, Deputy Director of the Social Security Board, Mr. Roy Barry noted that one of the biggest challenges faced by the NHI is the sustainability of the system.
He indicated the challenges being faced with some chronic defaulters and the inability to suspend payment to employees, although their employers are delinquent.
Mr. Barry highlighted the dilemma as a loophole in the legislation that prevents the Social Security Board from suspending persons' accounts.
Mr. Barry said that the body has written to delinquent employers, but has yet to receive a response from any. He noted that the body is prompted to seek criminal action against those employers.
The decision to suspend benefits of employees, whose employers fail to pay in their contributions, was first disclosed via a press release in November of 2016.
The release had stated that suspended benefits would only be reinstated when full payments of the outstanding amounts are made by the employers, adding that during such suspension, NHI will not pay for any healthcare services, supplies or prescriptions for employees of delinquent establishments.
Despite much call and inquiry from persons, the body held steady to their decision, noting that it would not be lifted until legal advice was received.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health, Hon. Ronnie Skelton inquired about the monies outstanding, stating, “Somewhere along the line there needed to be an estimate of the level of receivables in order to know what is being dealt with.”
He added, “If it is $100,000 then it would not really put the system in jeopardy, but it was $4-$5 million, then the committee needed to know.”
Mr. Barry stated that there is some difficulty in producing those figures, as the very persons who were not paying the NHI were the same persons who were not paying Social Security.
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