News
National Health Insurance Board Talks Access to Healthcare in the Turks & Caicos Islands
#TurksandCaicos, July 5, 2022 – The National Health Insurance Board was established under the National Health Insurance Ordinance 2009, as a statutory body. NHIB’s goal is to facilitate the provision of accessible, affordable, and quality health care services to all its beneficiaries. We would like to use this platform to educate the public on the referral and treatment abroad program and how they work.
Urgent/Non-Urgent Referrals
Urgent referrals are referrals that must be executed within a short period of time usually less than 48 hours, non-urgent referrals or routine referrals are executed over a longer period. As it relates to these urgent referrals it is important for the public to know that:
- A referral must be sent from the hospital, through the Joint Referral Committee, to NHIB for processing. You must be seen by a doctor at TCI hospital who will then decide whether your case is eligible for urgent referral.
- The Medical Director reviews the referral and will advise the operations department to proceed.
- We have an operations team NHIB that checks the eligibility of the beneficiary.
- Once a beneficiary is eligible, the transfer arrangement begins.
- Referrals are sent firstly to providers in the region (Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Cayman Islands) for acceptance. If the case cannot be managed within the region, then it is sent to our providers in Colombia.
- Patient (if able to communicate) or next of kin is contacted and informed that NHIB is in receipt of an overseas referral and what arrangement will be made. The NHIB process is explained during this time.
- Once a physician and a hospital accept the case, travel arrangement (air ambulance or charter, commercial flight) will begin.
Treatment Abroad Program Challenges and Important Information
We do face a few challenges with the referral service especially when a patient must be flown out of country for special care. One of the major challenges is travel documents. We are asking the public to make sure your documents are up to do date as you do not know when you or a loved one that you may have to accompany will face sudden health challenges that require medical attention overseas.
- NHIB does not pay for travel documents, passport, or visas.
- Nationalities that require visas to enter another country is responsible for getting their visa, NHIB only assist with medical visas.
- NHIB provides a subsistence to assist with living arrangements and ground transportation. What this means is that we do not cover the cost of your FULL living arrangement while seeking medical treatment abroad. What we do is provide you with a stipend that should assist with your day-to-day expenses.
- Medical bills for health procedures abroad are 100% covered by the NHIB (subject to the limitations included in NHI (Benefit) Regulations Section 6(3)). This means that when you travel to get medical attention under the Treatment Abroad Program, you do not receive a bill. Your medical expense is fully covered (see above).
- Work Permit holders are reminded that work permits are to be renewed three months prior to expiry. Beneficiaries with an expired work permit cannot be transferred in the event of an emergency.
- Some beneficiaries are only entitled to receive on island care.
- As it relates to Air Ambulance – This is a service which we source from providers overseas. The closest air ambulance company is in the Dominican Republic, others are based within the United States. Air ambulance confirms their ability to transfer based on availability of aircrafts and medical personnel, the nature of the case, and their capacity to transfer a patient safely.
Understanding Co-payments
We also use this opportunity to advise the public that if you are covered and eligible under the National Health Insurance Plan and you visit a clinic to see a private doctor on island, that $35 is deducted from your bill and paid by NHIB. TCI hospital is our preferred health provider, so once you are eligible, you only pay $10 copayment when seeking medical services covered by NHIP.
Services NOT covered by National Health Insurance Plan
The following are medical services that are NOT covered by the NHIP:
Cosmetic procedures
Long term care
Long term psychiatric care
Orthodontics for adults
Acupuncture
Homeopathy
Alternative medicines
Podiatry
Lifestyle procedures and sex changes
Short term nursing or home skilled nursing facility
Fertility treatments
Dermatology
Dentistry
Closing Remarks
I would like to take this time to thank all NHIP’s contributors. Once you get a good understanding of the National Health Insurance Plan, you will know that even though you may not require medical attention at this time, someone in need of medication, pre-natal care, emergency treatment, and all that is covered under the NHIP, is able to get the care they need because of your contribution. So, continue to make your contributions, and make them on time to avoid late fee penalties. Let us continue to work together in building a healthy nation one person at a time.
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Wines & Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ leading wine and spirits distributor, proudly supported Paradise
Plates, Hands for Hunger annual fundraiser with a flavorful offering of its newest product, Monument Beverage Co.
Monument, which launched this July and is available across six major islands, made its Paradise Plates debut. Guests enjoyed three bold flavors: Peach Passion, Ginger-Lime and Melon Fizz as they socialized throughout the evening.
Monument brand ambassadors engaged guests with knowledge on the ready-to-drink beverage’s unique taste and look. Many attendees were delighted to learn that Monument is 100% Bahamian-made and owned and enjoyed seeing the various national landmarks on the packaging.
The booth was adorned with vibrant brand colors, striped arches, tropical florals and a photo worthy backdrop featuring Monument cans filled with florals cascading down the wall.
At the end of the event, the entire Monument inventory had finished, making Monument’s Paradise Plates debut a huge success.
For more details on Caribbean Wines & Spirits, new products and specials, visit www.cwsbahamas.com today.
NASSAU, Bahamas — Schweppes, in collaboration with Nemiroff Vodka dazzled guests with handcrafted cocktails during Paradise Plates, Hands for Hunger’s annual fundraiser held at Atlantis’ Imperial Ballroom.
The evenings’ theme, 70’s: Paradise Disco, inspired bold and delicious sips from Schweppes and Nemiroff. The beautiful disco themed Schweppes booth, adorned with LED signs, lush greenery and hanging black and gold metallic orbs shined throughout the room.
Schweppes’ brand representatives and mixologists dressed in chic 70’s speakeasy attire engaged attendees throughout the night. Guests enjoyed receiving knowledge of each product and experiencing the vibrant energy of brand representatives.
Nemiroff Vodka, which is locally distributed by Caribbean Wines and Spirits (CWS), The Bahamas’ premier wines and spirits distributor; offered a unique variety of vodkas which made the perfect blend with Schweppes. Guests enjoyed, Nemiroff’s Honey Pepper, De Luxe, Burning Pear, Wild Cranberry, and Bold Orange vodkas throughout the night.
Fan favorite cocktails of the night were: the Wild Cranberry Tonic and the Bold Orange Fizz.
Following a positive response at Paradise Plates, CWS is offering Nemiroff and Schweppes specials at local liquor stores for the entire
month. With the purchase of any 1-liter Nemiroff vodka, enjoy a complimentary three-pack of Schweppes mixers, to recreate the magic of Schweppes and Nemiroff.
Cara Douglas-Adderley, Senior Marketing Director for Caribbean Bottling (CBC), local producers and distributors of Coca-Cola and Dasani products and CWS shared the inspiration behind the Schweppes and Nemiroff promotion.
“We are thrilled to have paired Schweppes and Nemiroff for Paradise Plates this year, creating a premium cocktail experience for guests. After receiving such positive feedback, we wanted to extend that experience to consumers at home. Throughout October, consumers can visit their favorite watering hole, buy any 1-liter Nemiroff bottle and receive a free three-pack of Schweppes.”
Caribbean Bottling Company is proud to offer Schweppes, Coca-Cola’s premier mixer in collaboration with Caribbean Wines & Spirits and Nemiroff Vodka at Paradise Plates in support of Hands for Hunger’s mission.
For more information on CBC’s philanthropic work, new products and specials, visits www.cbcbahamas.com today.
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos has refreshed the grounds of Enid Capron Primary School in Five Cays, Providenciales, ahead of the new school year, with a landscaping team from the resort, pruning and cutting back overgrown branches to give the campus a cleaner, safer look.
The project focused on the school’s exterior plantings, where tangled growth had begun to encroach on walkways and outdoor learning
areas. The team spent time trimming hedges, thinning dense shrubs and removing deadwood to improve sightlines and airflow around the buildings.
Assistant Landscaping Manager, Kemar Jones said the work at Enid Capron is a regular priority for the department, which views community giving as a core part of its mandate. He noted that supporting local schools, particularly through hands-on environmental work, has long been a focus area for his team.
Jones, said the effort reflects the group’s wider commitment to the islands. “As a team, our goal is to give back to our communities and especially providing support for the environment and education,” Jones noted. “The team is always ready to share our skills with making the school environment more comfortable for our students and teachers.”
General Manager Deryk Meany framed the project as part of Beaches’ broader approach to working alongside the community beyond the resort gates. “At Beaches Turks and Caicos, we operate as a team not only within the confines of the resort but also with our communities,” Meany added. “Being able to share our varied skills is always our main focus. Providing a comfortable learning environment allows for a greater relationship with our educational collaborators.”
He added that the resort seeks opportunities to support range of school-based initiatives, from environmental and leadership clubs to creative programmes.
Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture Hon. Rachel Taylor described the landscaping mission as a continuation of a long-
standing relationship between the Ministry and Beaches Turks and Caicos. “This mission from our major private sector supporter, Beaches Turks and Caicos is a long standing activity,” Taylor said. “At Enid Capron Primary School, we are treated as family. Once we reach out to the resort, they have always responded in a positive way.”
Hon. Taylor said the support is particularly valuable in the areas of education and community development, where consistent private-sector engagement can amplify government efforts.
Nelene Swann, vice principal at Enid Capron Primary welcomed the refreshed grounds as a boost to morale before classes resume. “This is what true collaboration looks like,” she noted. “This is more than a facelift for the school. The team from Beaches Turks and Caicos has shown true commitment in adding to this learning environment for our students and teachers.”
She said the improved landscaping contributes to a more comfortable and inviting campus for all stakeholders. “This is a good way to start the new school year. This facelift will certainly make the facilities here at the school more appealing to our students, teachers and parents.
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