Provident Insurance Company launches health insurance plan

Accra, June 22, GNA - Ghana's experience and that of the rest of the world shows that total government funding of health care delivery is impractical, Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo, Minister of Health said in Accra on Wednesday.

It is, therefore, clear that other methods of financing of health delivery must be found. He was launching the Provident "X'press Care Private Health Insurance Scheme" initiated by the Provident Insurance Company in conjunction with MED X, an international company specialised in health care administration and claims management.

Prof. Danso-Boafo said serious epidemics such as AIDS, coupled with modern ailments of civilisation including cancers and heart diseases are causing medical cost to escalate to uncontrollable heights.

Since governments are faced with demands from other sectors such as education and the provision of infrastructure, only limited resources could be found for health with its limitless demands.

He said the successful development of a private health insurance sector would reduce demand on the national purse and could be a source of financial assistance to the public health scheme.

Prof. Danso-Boafo said although worldwide experience shows that a private health insurance system is difficult to implement and police, effective claims management could do the trick.

"The more insurance companies and their clients participate in this market, the lower the premiums will be and the more successful will be the management systems".

He said this initiatives could, however, succeed if there was a total modern health delivery system serving the needs of all the different groups and regions in the country.

Mr Appiah Ampofo, Commissioner of the National Insurance Commission said it would make sure that policies instituted by insurance companies were sound. He said the Commission would also monitor and police their policies to ensure their effectiveness.

Mr Alan Clayton of the MED X said that Ghanaians stand to benefit from the scheme and it would also ensure that statistics are provided for the Ministry of Health. He said that currently the plan has incorporated 50 service providers in the country.

The Provident Express Care Medical Plan to be administered by MED X, Ghana is a cost effective health insurance product, which provides a comprehensive treatment to cover cost in and out of hospitals.

The plan has three options namely gold, silver and bronze. When making a selection, one has to carefully consider the annual limits of the scheme as well as the benefit sub-limit for each option and then choose the most appropriate.

It would ensure that money is not needed for emergency situations at point of service. The scheme would incorporate service providers such as doctors, specialists, clinics and pharmacies to administer care. It would also ensure that facilities of these service providers are managed and upgraded to meet acceptable standards.

Treatment and procedures to be covered include the cost of stay and treatment in hospital, cost of consultation, blood test and diagnostic radiology, medication, care facilities, cost of motor vehicle accidents and third party injuries and surgical prosthesis.

All services would be provided at Express Care facilities and government hospitals but in the eventuality that service is provided at a facility not under the Care Plan, the service provider would be contacted for claims.

Membership of the scheme is open to individuals as well as employers and is restricted to the age category of between zero and 65 years.

Children between the ages of zero to 18 are classified as dependants of the principal member unless they receive permission from their parents to join the medical plan as principal members Students between the ages of 18 and 26 are required to provide proof of their enrolment at a tertiary institution.

One would need to complete a membership application form and return it to a local Provident Insurance office. On acceptance, a membership card, a member guide and a master policy would be issued.