By Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterPENSIONERS, AMONG them golden agers, across the island have been complaining that several Blue Cross providers are refusing the temporary paper health cards given to them under the NI Gold Plan on the premise that they are outdated and hence invalid.
Not so, say Blue Cross and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security: the cards are legitimate until November 30 this year.
Both the Ministry and Blue Cross confirmed that the pensioners are facing this problem. "We have been getting a few complaints but it is not a great deal of providers not accepting the (paper) card," confirmed Nicole Hanse, a NI Gold customer representative at Blue Cross.
Denzil Thorpe, acting director of National Insurance, reiterated the authenticity of the claim of the elderly. "We have heard the complaints... we here haven't got much complaints. I have personally got about four; there was one in St. Elizabeth, one in Manchester and two in Kingston."
Mr. Thorpe argued that the misunderstanding is stemming from a lackadaisical approach from the Blue Cross providers. "What happens is that a lot of times Blue Cross sends out the notices, and also the pharmacies and what have you, don't read them, so that is the problem."
DIFFICULTIES WITH PHARMACIES
Ms. Hanse told The Gleaner that pensioners are experiencing the difficulties with pharmacies. She explained that several pharmacies are hesitant about accepting the paper cards because of the uncertainty that exist with the available balance.
"Yes, they are (reluctant to accept paper cards) because it is not like the swipe card that as you swipe the system is updated," said Ms Hanse. This, she says, is so because some pharmacies are neglecting their responsibility to indicate on the back of the card the amount of money remaining after the pensioner uses it to purchase pharmaceuticals.
The fears of the pharmacies are heightened because the allotted amount for prescription drugs is $4,000 per annum and when a year's allotment is exhausted, the pensioner will have to wait until the following year to have it replenished. Pensioners who experience problems are being asked to call the NI Gold toll-free line at 1-888-4-NI-GOLD and report the matter so that it can be clarified.
