Bernadette Daxon, an unemployed mother of eight, said yesterday that she does not support the government's plan to implement National Health Insurance (NHI) if it means another tax on the backs of Bahamians.
Earl Ferguson, 53, an unemployed resident of Bain Town, and Juliette Hudson, 33, a single mother of three, in separate interviews told The Guardian the same thing. Several other residents, who did not wish to speak on the record, said it is inconceivable that the government is contemplating introducing another tax so soon after value-added tax (VAT).
However, a teacher and mother of two, who spoke to the issue, said she believes in NHI wholeheartedly. Daxon, 39, a single mother who lives in an apartment in the government housing complex on Windsor Road off East Street, said unless the government plans to pay for NHI it should delay its implementation and focus on creating jobs.
Neither Daxon nor her eight children have insurance, she said. "If something was to happen to me today, I don't know who will bury me tomorrow," she said on her tattered sofa. She said she lost her part-time job at the One and Only Ocean Club in January.
The government said it will introduce NHI on January 1, 2016, but a report completed by health care consultant Sanigest Internacional shows the government has already missed key targets that would make this implementation date possible. The report revealed that NHI will cost between $362 million on the low end and $633 million on the high end annually.
"I don't think it is necessary for all Bahamians to have National Health Insurance because right now it is truly rough and most all of these people in this yard are hurting because they need jobs," Daxon said. "We shouldn't pay another tax.
It's rough. The government can't go through with this because it is killing out the poor people. "The government isn't looking out for the poor people, it's looking out for itself." However, Mrs. Johnson, a teacher with two children, said she has no problem contributing to NHI. She called in to the Guardian Radio talk show "Morning Blend" with host Dwight Strachan. "I don't have health insurance," she said yesterday.
"I don't work for the government, but I work doing what I love to do. "So I've had to make the sacrifice of doing what I love to do, what I'm passionate about, but I don't have health insurance. "When I got my mortgage, I had to drop my health insurance because it was too costly." Johnson said she's tired of being scared to go to the doctor. "...If I feel a little pain, I'm scared to go to the doctor because I don't want to hear the negative news that the doctor might say because I'm scared.
I'm scared that if something happens to my children, what will be the negative news," she said. "My thing about contributing to NHI is that it's not just about me. "It's about assisting those who aren't even at the level that I'm at financially. I think we are so selfish in this country. I'm tired of hearing people dying. They go to Princess Margret and they just die.
"We are so insensitive to one another. Yes, if I could afford it good, but if I can give back to my country, what's the problem? Why are we so selfish? "I haven't agreed with many of the things this government has done, but I agree with NHI." On Wednesday, Bain Town and Grants Town MP Dr. Bernard Nottage said he believes NHI is necessary and long overdue. Minister of Health Dr. Perry Gomez said last week that no decisions have yet been made regarding financing NHI. Prime Minister Perry Christie has said that the government will not be foolish with NHI.
On Augusta Street, Ferguson said he's known a lot of people who have died who couldn't afford insurance. "Yes, of course I would welcome NHI because right now it is a good thing," he said, sitting on his porch. "But who is paying for it? The government has to pay it for us. "We are at a point right now where we need jobs. "If they want the people to be better they have to create these jobs." Hudson said the government is out of touch with the poor.
"We already have VAT now and then you're going to add more taxes onto it?" she asked. "We won't make it over here." She added, "A lot of people don't have jobs now and the government wants to add more taxes. That makes no sense." She said her mother insured her three children, but admitted that she has no insurance. Christie has promised that by the end of 2015, between 7,500 and 8,000 new jobs will be added to the economy.
The Sanigest report proposes three revenue scenarios to pay for NHI. Under the low scenario, payroll contributions would not be introduced beyond the one percent approved for the National Prescription Drug Plan. This scenario calls for limited additional taxes on auto and other insurance and only partial transfer of existing government health spending.
Under the medium scenario, contributions of three percent would be introduced with two percent split between employers and employees, and a National Insurance Board (NIB) wage ceiling increase to $800. The current NIB wage ceiling is $620 per week. Under the high scenario, contributions of five percent would be introduced with a wage ceiling increase to $1,200.
The medium and high scenarios also call for additional taxes on alcohol and tobacco, auto insurance and other types of insurance, and nearly all existing government funding of healthcare would be channeled to NHI. The report lists other options for raising NHI revenue, including a surcharge on water, a surcharge on electricity and a surcharge on cable TV, among other forms of tax.
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