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Bankrupt health insurance program
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Posted on Dec 06 2000
The Issue: Denial of medical services in off-island medical centers as a result of a bankrupt health insurance program.
Our View: This is a serious issue that is treated with complacency while patients suffer denial of services.
We’re not exactly sure who is at fault in the apparent bankruptcy of the NMI’s health insurance program. Is non-payment part of the $42 million owed the retirement program by the local government? If such is the case, is there any hope at all this obligation could be paid hopefully soon?
It is really troubling that our government health insurance is bankrupt. It goes without saying that in bad times–especially when revenue generation declines substantially–this aspect of the local government’s obligation suffers non-payment. Such non-payment has a domino effect–denial of services of Marianas patients in off-island medical centers.
Over the last year or so, there are two incidents that we find troubling: 1). Local families organize fund-raisers to supplement an exhausted health insurance policy on a critically ill loved one. 2). Denial of vital medical services because we are in arrears by as much as $4 million. Whether it is a problem of payment on the part of the local government or one of accounting, none of these setbacks have been of any help to patients in Manila, Guam and Honolulu.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Many would be dealt a heavy blow in either off-island medical centers or as the local population ages and must necessarily deal with long term illnesses. Yes, politicians have treated this issue either ignorantly or without gusto. In either case, these isles need a policy on health insurance. Something must be done about it before a good portion of the populous suffers from mind numbing bankruptcy. Si Yuus Maase`!
