Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, has posed a challenge to over 160 participants of the the Caribbean Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (CARAIFA) 27th annual Sales congress, to model a health insurance scheme that people from all walks of life can benefit from.
Skerrit, who is also the country’s Finance Minister, said at the opening ceremony of the congress at the Arawak House of Culture on Monday that discussions must be held to address the issue.
“We need to meet and discuss this very important issue as to how we can develop and model a Health Insurance Scheme to benefit the whole population,” he said. “Government just cannot afford to provide the extent of medical services which our citizens need nationally and indeed regionally.” the prime minister stated.
He said the idea is a challenge that must be addressed and a solution found. “It is incumbent on us as an insurance industry and as a society to work on addressing this particular challenge. I may have insurance; you may have insurance, but what about our neighbor who can’t afford to have insurance? How do we cater for them? And I believe we need to come up with a solution for that particular challenge,” he stressed
Skerrit also commended the efforts of professionals in the industry.
“I want to commend CARAIFA for the leadership that you have demonstrated for the insurance industry. Clearly we have been visited with some unfortunate instances but I believe generally the insurance industry is a very responsible one and I want to commend all of you for maintaining that kind of professionalism in the industry,” he said
The theme of the CARAIFA congress is ‘Life’s Blessings’.
We need a new pm! That is what we need.
I could afford CLICO and hospital have bill for me to pay all now. You were one flying high with Leroy Paris, Mr. PM. Where is he now to answer for the people’s money? No one has been arrested as yet??? You should just stay away from the road insurance Sir. Your campaign was donated millions by mr. Paris
Spray baygon on Mwen please
I agree with u mr pm…but as affordable as you want it to be , we still have to be able to afford it.We need a raise in salary and more jobs sir.
When last have we seen the MP for Giraudel ?
Yes We Care is needed in Eggleston/Giraudel because our people are suffering for health care especially the elderly and some of the unfortunate youths are our MP is no where to be seen.
When we listen/view GIS its like apart from the very recent road repairs and water for us, since (2000)hence 13 years after, there is nothing being done for our Constituency.
Anyone who is reading this PLEASE pass our message to the PM and ask him to have a meeting with us …all of us Giraudel and Eggleston to listen to our concerns. WE HAVE AN INVISIBLE AND INEFFECTIVE PARL REP AND WE ARE IN NEED OF A NEW DLP CANDIDATE FOR THE NEXT ELECTIONS.
Health for all Dominicans and there are very serious Health issues that are not being attended to in our area and PM please hear our plight.
Health Insurance is indeed a necessity for All Dominicans.
Newtown clinic don’t have enough medication and at sometimes people have to be sent back home because of no injections etc.
So long we hearing about a new Newtown clinic and cheeeups it is just talk and marti that we continue to hear.
PM we begging for you to have a Town Hall Meeting for the whole Roseau South Constituency to hear our cries. A new DLP Candidate is needed for the next General Elections for “you know who ” is SEEMING FAILURE of the highest order. Certainly Newtown is without representation and we fed up with mister.
Health Insurance is important but PM not many of us are able to meet our everyday needs most less for insurance.
A good weave cost more than a decent monthly health insurance payment.
One of the most affordable insurance services in Dominica is health insurance.
The problem is that the average Dominican feels that it’s the bossman and government who should pay for their health. Its the extension of our overall beggar welfare mentality. It’s not just in our Government policies but throughout our character as a nation.
For the few who really cannot afford then yes Government should pay for them using my tax dollar. I have no problem with that.
Of course he made no comment on afforable insurance for businesess who have no choice but to buy insurance otherwise they cant get loans or refinancing. No. He talks of only what’s important to him and yet still, he can’t see the big picture as Jimi Hendrix pointed out that if your private sector cannot hire or pay well then no one is buying health insurance and the burden will continue to be on Government.
I would suggest some form of Universal health coverage which is a broad concept that has been implemented in several ways. The common denominator for all such programs is some form of government action aimed at extending access to health care as widely as possible and setting minimum standards.
Most implement universal health care through legislation, regulation and taxation. Legislation and regulation direct what care must be provided, to whom, and on what basis. Usually some costs are borne by the patient at the time of consumption but the bulk of costs come from a combination of compulsory insurance and tax revenues.
One foresee problem in Dominica is the compulsory insurance, there are plenty of people who will never be in a position to afford insurance premiums
Some programs could be paid entirely out of tax revenues. Some tax revenues could be used either to fund insurance for the very poor or for those needing long term chronic care.
Perhaps the powers that be in Dominica should review the UK government’s National Audit Office: in 2003 they published an international comparison of ten different health care systems in ten developed countries, nine universal systems against one non-universal system (the U.S.), and their relative costs and key health outcomes. A wider international comparison of 16 countries, each with universal health care, was published by the World Health Organization: in 2004. In some cases, government involvement also includes directly managing the health care system, but many countries use mixed public-private systems to deliver universal health care.
I do not believe in a place such as Dominica any private entity should be given a hand in providing health care to the public; too much personal politics.
I am not an authority on this subject, so I can only suggest a review of the British System, it would also be good to review the American Medicare Medical System, and the affordable care system introduced by the Obama Administration.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Ok, am I the only one thinking that we already have some mechanism in place like this; that is the Social Security which is obligatory for all working individuals between age 16 and retirement age. All they have to do is extend the scheme so that family members or dependants non working are covered under one’s social security just like a health insurance and I guess increase the rates being paid out to people as presently I pay more for social security than my individual health insurance monthly; yet I benefit more from my insurance. This whole social security scheme has to be looked at. And I think it should begin with looking at Social Security using the people’s funds to take ownership in non profitable companies such as Marpin 2K4 and the like.
I want a job skerro. If I get a job I can afford insurance. Lawd, I just want to eat like everybody else
if i was a synical person i would more believe that the prime minister wants us all to get insurance because he is fed up and lacking funds to keep all his “loyal” children taken care of and now wants them to go out into the big bad world by themselves and let go of daddys hand
Insurance is NOT designed to dish out money when needed. It is designed to make money for its share holders by taking premiums from policy holders, finding any reason to deny claims, and keep on pretending that they are there to help.
Therefore, in a small, fragile and insurance ignorant society like ours the best thing is a national insurance scheme with the major contributor being the government. Another reason for the national scheme is due to fact that even if his challenge would be taken into consideration Dominicans cannot afford to put food on the table so how are they going to pay? To Mr. Skerro I say, jobs needs to be created and cash must start flowing in the country first…so get busy and stop hiding under Tony’s skirt.
Assertive, NOT Agressive!
when pple have better jobs or can atleast get a job we will start paying insurance
Its high time we get on par with the rest of the region. A National Insurance Scheme is the best way forward. Medic Care is too expensive
the social secrurity scheme which every worker on island contributes too; is a general or island wide insurance ;not only for retirement; many contributors dies and does not benifit ;plus monies deposite brings intress therefore giving employments to the proper ,or natives of the land will also help and a better use of the peoples money can help insure many of the less fortunate.
Pm your idea good, but you should also tell them they should disclose to the public about the things they would want to investment in and also inform the public if their insurance company is insured
Why did my fellow Dominicans reject the idea of having a national insurance scheme? The Prime Minister is absolutely correct about insurance for poor peole.What he didn’t adress was the reasons why so may of our people have no form of insurance.Politicians of ALL colours are to be blamed.Mny of them led our people to believe that it was the worst thing a government could ask its citizens to do.Off course,they had their own personal agendas.Result? No health insurance.
The best way forward is through a national health insurance scheme to which all employed/self employed persons would contribute. Their children and unemployed spouses would be covered too.Fellow citizens its high time we stop begging for donations every time we have a major accident or a child has an emergency medical need.Let’s all get together and ask our Government to establish a National Health Insurance Scheme for us.It works in Barbados, it can work in Dominica too.
Where is the government going to get the money to paid for such a scheme? What are you prepared to give up to get better medical insurance? I am not saying it is not a laudible goal, but someone has to pay for it.
Once you can outline how we pay for it, I am on your side. Throwing out a wish list to the government is not going to accomplish anything.
The Government and the workers representatives(unions), and others would get together to decide how much each worker would contribute base on their salary/wages.Then government would fund the remainder.Of course private buisnesswould also have a to be part of the decision making.I recognise that not all private sector employees are unionized. It must be compulsory and backed by law, with stiff penalties for those who attempt to circumvent the law.
I’m only 19 and I’ve been saying that for some time now. A national health insurance scheme is the way to go..benefit for all
..true say, but your
(screen) 
name have me lauging too much… 
Skerro it is a lot simpler than you think. Create an environment where entrepreneurs can invest and create jobs. People can then afford to buy their own insurance. Getting to that point is more challenging, but that is what you must strive to achieve. The fact that some people cannot afford insurance has less to do with the insurance industry and more to do with the state of the economy that has been moribound for as long as I can remember.
The Dominican population need some insurance education. There are many who can afford insurance but refuse to purchase policies. why? because they are simply ignorant of the cost benefits. But when something happens then the are calling on govt to pay there way.
Recently I was thinking of suggesting an insurance education drive in Dominica and later an insurance product signed specifically for the low income house holds.
Mr PM, you may be corrupt, but I believe you still have the people’s interests at heart.
Most of the current insurance healthcare products on the market are not tailored with options for the Dominican poor man.
But the general idea of Dominicans is that insurance “theft” lol. Most don’t even realize the importance of social security.
I know many who are now at retirement age with no pension plan. They never paid social security, now they are looking for a hand out. We can’t afford this.
Lets educate our people as to the benefits of insurance