A total of 413 persons were kicked off the National Health Insurance (NHI) system and denied benefits after being either laid-off or terminated from their place of employment.
This is according to the Minister of Labour and Immigration Vincent Wheatley who made the disclosure during a recent Sitting of the House of Assembly.
Minister Wheatley was responding to a question posed by the Opposition Leader Marlon Penn who queried as to the total number of persons who were kicked off the NHI system due to nonpayment.
“Mr. Speaker 413 persons were suspended from NHI due to unemployment, 413. 75 persons registered as voluntary and the remaining persons were given extensions by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration to remain in the territory without NHI,” he stated.
He added, “Now that the territory is being reopened, these persons will be employed and payments made to NHI on their behalf will reactivate their benefits. As soon as they start working and start paying in, we will reactivate them so that they can get the benefits of NHI.”
NHI SYSTEM REVAMP STILL IN INFANCY STAGE
In a subsequent question, Opposition Leader Penn asked the minister to update the public on the latest developments regarding the $1 million that was allocated from the stimulus funds to revamp the NHI system.
Minister Wheatly responded by informing the Members of the House that the project was still in its embryonic stage.
“The $1 million has since been transferred to NHI. Thus far the Request for Expressions of Interest had been prepared and interested persons or companies were invited to submit an Expression of Interest to undertake the development of a comprehensive Request for Proposal. The intention is to undertake a comprehensive review of the NHI system and to come up with the recommendations for improvement, viability and sustainability. So, work in progress,” Wheatley stated.
Penn then asked the minister to provide a timeline for the completion of the project, stating that the monies were allocated approximately 6 months ago.
He stressed on the need to have the project completed since it is an integral component of the BVI society.
“My timeline was last week. I too wish it was further along. I will express to them the need to move this process along much faster. NHI is an incredibly important system to have for us, it’s not working as it should and it is my intention to get it fixed in as short a time as possible. That I promise you,” Minister Wheatley responded.
Both the minister and Premier Andrew Fahie have on many occasions issued concerns that the present National Health Insurance system, if not reviewed, has the potential to bankrupt the territory.