Health Insurance
Notorious healthcare bills climb to new high
(CNS): The public purse will be picking up a record-breaking tab by the end of this year to cover the hospital bills both at home and abroad for people who are either under- or uninsured. Although the 2021 Census suggested that 93% of Cayman Islands residents have health insurance, in 2023 the government is expecting […]
Public cash pays for failed health insurance system
(CNS): With many local people still either uninsured or under-insured, the government’s healthcare bill is climbing while the local health insurance sector continues to make a profit as companies cherrypick their customers. Earlier this month, Cabinet approved another CI$13.5 million of public cash to cover healthcare costs this year for indigents and for those with […]
PACT commits to free health cover for kids and elders
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Government has committed to introducing free healthcare provision for both children and the elderly as soon as it can afford to do so, though it has not given a timeline for when this will happen. In parliament last month, during a debate on a private member’s motion, the government said that […]
Insurance company battles to regain trust of providers
(CNS): Around 10% of healthcare providers are refusing to accept Cayman First Insurance cover at the point of need. Health facilities have been asking patients to pay upfront and claim back the money themselves because of significant delays in payments by the beleaguered local company, which has said it is working to persuade all providers […]
HIC identifies problems at local insurance company
(CNS): The Health Insurance Commission (HIC), in consultation with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), conducted an investigation last year of the local insurance company Cayman First Insurance following complaints about its failure to pay legitimate claims to healthcare providers. During the investigation, the regulator found a number of problems at Cayman First, including a […]
MPs vote CI$8M more for healthcare bills
(CNS): Finance Committee has voted another CI$8 million to cover healthcare costs for Caymanians who are uninsured or under-insured and have been treated outside the Health Services Authority facilities. When the committee met at the end of the last session of Parliament to deal with supplementary spending, health ministry civil servants told MPs that healthcare […]
Health insurance help ends as costs rise
(CNS): The Health Insurance Premium Payment Assistance Programme, the freeze on private pension payments and the tourism stipend programme are all due to come to an end this month. Government has not yet confirmed that employees and workers must start paying into pension funds again next month or what will happen to tourism stipend recipients […]
CINICO to offer insurance to all in major expansion
(CNS): The government-owned insurance company, CINICO, is being expanded to provide affordable health insurance for more people outside of the public sector, including the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. Finance Minister Chris Saunders also said CINICO will be refunded to allow it to provide auto and home insurance for government workers. The main aim […]
Health insurance payment programme extended
(CNS): The PACT government will continue picking up the tab for the health insurance cover for thousands of Caymanian tourism and hospitality workers until the end of March, given that the return of the tourism industry remains precarious. Those applying for this latest round of the Health Insurance Premium Payment Assistance Programme (PPAP) must do […]
Turner challenges vaccine misinformation
(CNS): Health Minister Sabrina Turner has appealed to the public to use good judgement and common sense over the misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine circulating on social media and being promoted in the local community. She asked people to learn the facts and data about the vaccine from sources like the World Health Organization or […]
Chamber boss claims pension system a success
(CNS): Cayman’s national pension system has faced significant criticism from politicians of all stripes but Chamber of Commerce President Mike Gibbs defended it at the organisation’s Legislative Luncheon last week, despite evidence that, 23 years after the system was introduced, few people are retiring with anything like a viable income from their investment.
