By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE assurances from the government, the Police Staff Association continues to be concerned about the future of the health insurance scheme for police officers, fearing that it will be diminished as National Health Insurance comes on stream.

Although primary health care is slated to begin in April, the government has not given a definite timeline as to when the more expansive vital benefits package will be introduced.

It is unclear when catastrophic coverage will be rolled out, however the government has said a special fund will be created to help those with serious illnesses in the interim.

Through their current health insurance arrangement, police officers have access to primary and catastrophic coverage.

In a letter to Mr Smith on January 15, NHI Secretariat Permanent Secretary Peter Deveaux-Isaacs said the PSA chairman’s concerns are being considered.

He stressed that insurance benefits offered to police officers will not be diminished under NHI, but added that once primary care is rolled out it is anticipated that these benefits would be “removed from any existing policy coverage”.

“(Your) recommendations were forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for consideration,” Mr Deveaux-Isaacs wrote. “You would appreciate that the government’s primary health insurance is negotiated between the Ministry of Finance and the insurance companies directly with no direct involvement from National Health Insurance save and except, in your instance the National Health Insurance Secretariat acted as the intermediary to ensure that the recommendations put forward by your organisation were submitted to the relevant agency for consideration.

“The government has, however, enunciated as its official position, that the implementation of National Health Insurance would not in any way diminish the benefits currently enjoyed by members of the police and correctional associations. It is anticipated that NHI will roll out with primary health care benefits. Once these benefits are rolled out under the NHI programme, it is anticipated that they would be removed from any existing policy coverage as the government should not have to pay twice for the coverage.”

As it relates to discussing the police health care coverage scheme with health insurance companies, a source familiar with such dealings said it would likely take months to arrange and finalise.

It was unclear if the discussions have already started.