fp Turks and Caicos

The fp spoke directly to NHIB CEO, Brian Hogan, in an effort to bring clarity to the questions on the minds of many in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Simply put, NHIP is a social health insurance plan. Social Health insurance is the predominant basis for organizing health services in the majority of European countries and due to rising health care costs, its principles have been adapted by countries the world over.

The idea behind a social health insurance plan is to make health care benefits accessible to all, financed in an equitable way as possible; i.e. everyone gets the same benefits and everyone pays their fair share.

According to Hogan, currently as much as 90% of the population of the TCI does not have health insurance. This is a staggering number when compared to other developing countries, such as the US who is currently revamping their system due to the estimated 15% of Americans without insurance. It is a monumental task to create a scheme which will take a country from 10% of the people being insured to 100%, but Hogan is firm in his belief that NHIP can be successful in its goal to provide comprehensive health care to all residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Hogan explained how the plan will work.

To start, ALL working individuals will be required to contribute to the plan. This includes government employees, self-employed persons as well as all those employed by local businesses, whether work permit holders, PRC holders or Belongers. “In order for the plan to work, everyone must contribute their part,” Hogan explained.

Although some of the minor details are still being finalized, Hogan explained how the insurance will actually work.

“Every person who is a legal resident of the country will receive the benefits of the plan. This includes disabled persons and eligible pensioners. Each member will receive a health insurance card for themselves and all members of their immediate family. Each cardholder can then go to any physician in our network of contracted health care providers and seek care,” Hogan described. The list of those who will be included in the network of contracted health care providers is being finalized but Hogan says it will include local private doctors, the two new InterHealth Canada hospitals, as well as physicians and hospitals outside the Turks and Caicos. “We are working hard to be sure that as many health care providers are included in the plan as possible. It is to everyone’s benefit if someone who has been treating you for years can continue to treat you.” Hogan explained. Hogan points out that InterHealth Canada, and their two new hospitals, are not in any way part of the NHIB or financed by NHIP contributions, beyond the fees they will receive for care they provide to NHIP members as the Preferred Provider.

To make it simple, when a member of the NHIP wants to seek medical attention, they will go to the appropriate health care provider of their choice (be that a local doctor in the network of contracted health care providers, a local hospital (InterHealth Canada as the Preferred Provider) or in prearranged situations to a facility outside the TCI), that person or entity will verify eligibility and then provide the health care services required. The provider will then collect their fees for their services from NHIB. The out of pocket expense for the private providers is likely to be less than that of the Preferred Provider.

The system is simple and complicated all at the same time, but Hogan was very clear that they are working in the interest of every Turks and Caicos Island resident in an effort to ensure they receive quality and affordable health care in the future.

In the coming weeks, we will be addressing more specific issues relating to the National Health Insurance Plan. If you have questions you would like to see answered, please email your questions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will work to address as many questions as possible in each week’s edition of the Free Press.