Health Minister Dwayne Seymour has said that the Premium Payment Assistance Programme, a health insurance benefits scheme recently established by the government, may be extended.
At the COVID-19 press briefing, Seymour responded to media questions about the benefits scheme. The programme, which was intended initially to cover the months of April, May, and June of this year, enabled furloughed employees to maintain their insurance coverage during the lockdown period when they were unable to work or working reduced hours.
In addition to considering an extension of the period of time employers can apply for the scheme, the government is also looking at a different application process.
Many Caymanian workers are still unemployed, so an extension would help individuals maintain their health coverage over a longer period of time. As well, a new approach to the application process may prevent some issues that have plagued the benefits scheme so far.
Recent reports of unpaid premiums can be explained by the fact that one company failed to honor its contract with the government. The government is now remedying the situation and processing invoices for the insurers in the programme for April and May. June’s invoices will be processed soon.
At the briefing, Seymour apologised for any complications or issues applicants may have experienced in the past and offered reassurance that the government would fulfill its promise.
In April and May, a total of 286 applications were processed, and 235 applications were approved, covering a total of 1,368 employees and dependents.
If any programme applicants continue to have issues, Seymour has asked that they contact the Health Insurance Commission at HIC@gov.ky. Anyone with medical bills issued by the Health Services Authority can also contact the HIC at this email address. Each case will be reviewed individually.
