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From left: Jim Rosen (executive advisor, cabinet VSA), Eric Ellis (executive manager of claims Dept. Nagico), Ash Hodge (taxi driver), Ellen Benjamin (Manager Medical Dept. Nagico) and Minister of Public Health Emil Lee. Photo contributed

St. Maarten News – One of the Ministry of VSA’s top priorities is to ensure that everyone has access to affordable and quality healthcare. Having affordable health insurance is a critical part of having access to healthcare. Besides being a barrier to accessing healthcare, being uninsured can also place huge financial strains on the family.

Unfortunately, during the time in office, Minister Lee has already signed off for quite a few uninsured people to be evacuated for emergency medical reasons. “I have seen the stress placed on families when family members without health insurance need to be evacuated for emergency reasons. Additionally, evacuating uninsured patients becomes a substantial financial burden for government, as government ends up covering these costs” explained Minister Lee.

Based on conversations with Mr. Imran McSood Amjad from Nagico, they put together a highly competitive policy for uninsured people in St Maarten, especially focused on the sole proprietors such as bus drivers, taxi drivers, vendors, caretakers, domestic helpers and micro businesses. The policy by Nagico is called SXM Medical. “By aggregating all the uninsured persons into one group, Nagico can offer highly competitive rates. While the policy is not national health insurance, it is certainly a temporary solution, hopefully this will help to reduce the number of uninsured people in St Maarten.” concluded Minister Lee.

So for less than 3 dollars per day, an individual can purchase a quality health insurance policy that includes medical treatment, medication, air ambulance, limited dental and limited vision expense benefits. Nagico has put together individual and family rates.

Within the first hour, after Minister Lee’s press briefing, Nagico reports that already 5 people inquired about signing up for the policy.

Minister Lee also wants to extend a personal thank you to taxi driver Ash Hodge pictured in the photo receiving the policy. Mr. Hodge who the Minister has known for years, had originally asked the Minister how he could get affordable health insurance, starting this entire journey.

For those who are interested in the policy, they can contact Nagico Insurances at 5422739 or stop by their office on the C.A. Cannegieter Street # 26.