By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

RESIDENTS yesterday praised the National Insurance Board for conducting a “professional” and “efficient” registration process for National Health Insurance (NHI).

The residents, all present at the Town Centre Mall to mark the start of the registration campaign, said they had no difficulties registering for the new NIB smart card, which will be used as the primary tool for identifying persons who are eligible for NHI services.

While there appeared to be a slow turnout yesterday, the registrants interviewed also praised the government for making universal healthcare a priority. However, they all said that they would opt to retain their existing private health insurance plans and monitor NHI as the government rolls out the components of the proposed scheme.

“They’re really organised,” one man at the registration centre told The Tribune. “No hustling, no fighting, they really seem to have it together. It wasn’t a hassle getting in and out. Perhaps 35 to 45 minutes we were in and out quick. I guess the only thing we wait to see now is how effective the coverage and insurance will be initially moving forward.

“But initially I think it will be the same (as before), because you know in the Bahamas, wherever you go you know people can always get served. So I’m just hoping that the people at the bottom end of the barrel really benefit from this, because the high-end people are covered.”

When asked if he would drop his current coverage in favour of NHI, he said: “I’m just going to keep the coverage, just see how it goes.”

A woman who did not want to be named said of the registration process: “I feel it’s good what they are doing and the process here I think is going very smooth. It’s not hectic. I like the system that they have going on here. I think it’s very effective and professionally done.”

She added that she was “excited” that NHI had finally become a reality in the country.

“I think it’s a good thing,” she said. “It’s been a long time coming and I’m happy that it’s now in place. And I know from what I understand of it that it will benefit this country in a great way. So I’m happy that it’s on stream now.”

Of the possibility of dropping her current insurance policy, she said: “I will see how it goes. There are persons who do not have any coverage at all, so for those people I know they are so happy that this is on stream now. But for me I think if I would think about dropping it I would definitely keep the life (insurance), but why pay for something that you can get free?”

Another registrant who did not want to be identified thanked the government for bringing NHI on stream.

“Basically I think it’s overdue, it’s been a long time coming, been a lot of promises,” he said. “(The government) could be a little more transparent about what’s happening, but as far as I know a lot of people don’t have insurance, and it will be a good thing once it’s applied properly.”

He said of possibly dropping his current coverage: “I’ll keep it and wait to see what’s happening with NHI. But I think it’s going to come off properly. It’s overdue.”

NIB is the government agency that will facilitate the entire registration process for NHI, which is expected to take four to five months. Centres are open at the JL Centre on Blake Road; the Town Centre Mall; and the Enoch Beckford Memorial Auditorium on Carmichael Road in New Providence.

Centres are also open at NIB offices in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands.