Survey underway invites input on possible development of a Standard Health Insurance Contract (SHIC) for persons aged 65 and older.

• Online and downloadable survey forms are available from the Department of Health Regulatory Services website.
• Deadline is 15 April 2018.

 

Members of the public have until Sunday 15 April 2018 to share their opinions on how the Cayman Islands can best meet the unique healthcare needs of older persons.

Over the next four weeks the Health Insurance Commission (HIC) and Department of Health Regulatory Services (DHRS) are inviting Cayman Islands residents of all ages to take part in a survey. Available online and in hard copy, the survey is part of a recently begun feasibility study on the possible development of a Standard Health Insurance Contract (SHIC) for persons aged 65 and older.

Stressing the importance of public consultation to the process, Health Insurance Commission Chair Harvey Stephenson points out that the current standard health insurance contract (SHIC) offers maternity benefits, while older persons might benefit instead from increased coverage for prescription medicines or outpatient visits.

“In 2016 there were some 4,000 people aged 65 and over in the Cayman Islands, with an average life expectancy of 82 years. Our aim is to better understand this population’s unique needs. Questions we will be looking to answer include whether to create a special plan for them, how we might go about doing it, and whether there are other ways to achieve the same goal”, Mr  Stephenson says.

The survey asks 22 questions and is expected to take about 15-20 minutes to complete.

Canadian human resource consultants, Morneau Shepell, are conducting both the survey and the study on behalf of the commission and department. To this end representatives of the firm have already led meetings seeking input from stakeholders, including approved healthcare and health insurance providers, older persons and members of the business community.

Morneau Shepell will produce a report that will use public opinion and other measures to determine a suitable schedule of benefits for the local environment, as well as an actuarially determined health insurance premium rate for persons aged 65 and older.

Noting that it is impossible to say at this stage what the revised coverage might look like, Superintendent of Health Insurance Mervyn Conolly urges all Cayman Islands residents to have their say on what standards of healthcare should be available for older persons.

“The aim of this survey is to allow older persons and those who will eventually become older persons to articulate their needs and opinions concerning the affordability and sustainability of health insurance coverage”, Mr Conolly remarks.  The superintendent says a separate poll has been sent to local health insurance brokers.

Health Minister Dwayne Seymour comments: “The Cayman Islands recently adopted its first older persons’ policy. As that document makes clear Government is committed to ensuring that this vulnerable but much valued section of our population has access to coverage that is affordable, sustainable and allows them to enjoy a high quality of life.”

Known as SHIC 65+ for the group on which the study is focusing, the project is expected to be completed by early summer, and its results made available to the public shortly thereafter.

Interested persons may download the form or complete the online survey at the Department of Health Regulatory Services website www.dhrs.gov.ky.

Hard copies are available from the Health Insurance Commission kiosk on the ground floor of GAB and from all district health clinics on all three islands, and may be returned to these places.  Additional information is available from [email protected].