SINCE THE inception of the National Insurance (NI) Gold Health Plan in December 2003, Blue Cross of Jamaica has processed more than 27,000 claims from pensioners.
The NI Gold Health Plan targets all National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pensioners. Benefits include coverage for prescription drugs, doctor's office visits, dental, optical, diagnostic tests, hospitalisation, and surgery, among others.
Speaking at a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) 'Think Tank' this week, Rupertia Smith, manager of public sector Business Unit at Blue Cross, said that the organisation had issued more than 20,000 health cards to NI Gold pensioners and, that the most common claims were both office visits to the doctor and prescription drugs.
A nine-member NI unit has been specially created at Blue Cross to accommodate pensioners. "They have a facility second to none, where they can come in and relax, and be attended to by a specialist officer," Mrs. Smith disclosed.
The special NI Gold unit is vital, as it is sometimes difficult for pensioners to comprehend the process involved. "It takes a lot of repetition to guide them through the process of understanding," she explained. "We make sure to explain everyone of the benefits, so if we are unable to do so with the pensioner, we explain them to a family member or friend of the pensioner, who in turn will be able to guide them."
This is in addition to advising pensioners about getting their claims paid. "We pay the NI Gold claim much earlier than we do other health claims ...both providers and pensioners get paid within 15 days", Mrs. Smith pointed out.
She noted, however, that while many pensioners were eager to use the benefits, many were oftentimes suspicious and were not too keen to divulge the benefits as it pertained to the health plan.
"We also encourage them that when they go to the provider, they should show the provider their NI Gold Card outlining the benefits," she said.
For further information on the NI Golden Plan, persons may contact Blue Cross at the following numbers 927-9821-7 or call toll free 1-888-4NI-GOLD (1-888-464-4653).
