Horace Dalley, Minister of Labour and Social Security, hugs senior citizen Elsie Sayle following yesterday's contract signing and launch of 'NI Gold', a new health insurance scheme for Government pensioners. The event was held at the Chinese Benevolent Association, Old Hope Road, St. Andrew.
-Norman Grindley photoTrudy Simpson
, Staff Reporter
THE NEW health insurance scheme for pensioners under the National Health Fund took effect yesterday.
The scheme, called 'NI Gold', is spearheaded by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security in conjunction with health insurance giant, Blue Cross of Jamaica, through which claims will be filed.
The scheme will provide the island's over 80,000 National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pensioners with health benefits such as hospitalisation, diagnostics, surgical services, prescriptions, dental, optical and doctors' visits.
It is costing $335 million in the first year, and will increase to $402 million in the second year, said Labour and Social Security Minister Horace Dalley during the launch of the new plan at the Chinese Benevolent Association on Old Hope Road, St. Andrew.
The money will come from the NIS penison scheme which now has assets totalling $27 billion, he said at the launch. There was also a contract signing between Blue Cross and the Ministry.
The contract period runs from December 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004. Government's portion of the coverage ranges from $500 for a doctor's visit to $30,000 for surgeon's fee.
"The 'NI Gold' health cards and explanatory brochures are being sent by registered mail to pensioners. By the end of this week cards will be available for collection by pensioners in person at their local post offices in the parishes of Clarendon, St. Thomas and at the Liguanea Post Office in Kingston 6. The remaining cards will be dispatched over the next few weeks," Minister Dalley said, prior to handing several pensioners the first batch of health cards under the new scheme.
A GODSEND
The first card went to retired educator Joan Barrett, 70, who said she has gone to her doctor on Tuesday and was told she may need surgery to correct problems associated with glaucoma.
"It's a godsend," the retired educator told The Gleaner, smiling. Nearby was 73-year-old Mildred Francis, who said she was planning to sign up. Although she gets most of her medication without cost, the retired caterer, who once served the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), said the card would come in handy during the few times she has to pay for medication.
"Sometimes when they (UHWI) don't have the medication, I have to buy it so this will come in handy. I get my pension but its small so when I hear them talk about this, I feel glad. I'll be getting a little more," she said.
PROMISED PENSION INCREASE
During yesterday's launch, Mr. Dalley also pledged that all categories of pensioners would receive the promised increased pension rates by December 18, 2003. The increases are retroactive to July.
Yesterday's launch, at which there were a number of display booths and free medical care for seniors, was attended by scores of senior citizens, officials from Blue Cross, various agencies and Government ministries, the National Council for Senior Citizens and the Jamaica Govern-ment Pensioners' Association.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson first announced the scheme on November 28, at the launch of the National Health Fund, another scheme which covers 14 chronic illnesses.
There are 268,000 persons aged 60 and over in Jamaica. They account for 10.2 per cent of the population.
