USVI Governor sends health insurance legislation to Senate
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| Published on Friday, September 19, 2008 |
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By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com
ST THOMAS, USVI: Governor of the US Virgin Islands, John de Jongh, has sent legislation to the Senate to renew the government's health insurance plan, increasing it by $7million.
In the fiscal year 2008, the plan totaled $96.5 million, with the government paying 65 percent of the plan's premiums and government employees paying the difference of 35 per cent.
The plan will jump to $103.8 million for next year.
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USVI Governor John
deJongh, Jr. Photo:
Susan Mann |
The Virgin Island Daily News reported that the Group Dental Health Insurance contract also was submitted, but it does not require legislative approval because no changes have been made.
The current plan expires at the end of September, so senators are required to act quickly to ratify the renewal to prevent a lapse in insurance coverage for government employees.
In his referral letter to Senate President Usie Richards, de Jongh said that the late submission was caused, in part, by the requirements of the Virgin Islands Code which required a Preferred Provider Organizer. He explained that there was some delay in this regard because there were a number of issues to be resolved.
The Governor explained that the country’s healthcare provider organization, V.I. Equicare and health insurer CIGNA had trouble resolving issues related to their agreement, and this hampered the ability of the contract with CIGNA. | | | | Reads : 280 |
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