HEALTH CARE OPTIONS

At some point in time we have all either been ill or will be. Our first priority will be to get better and this usually involves a visit to a medical doctor, medication and other related costs. Having to pay between $1000 and $2000 average doctors visit and prescription costs that can run from the hundreds to the thousands, getting ill can be quite expensive. If you are one of many Jamaican’s who suffer from asthma, allergies, sinusitis, diabetes or hypertension, financing illnesses will take a heavy toll on your budget. Here are some options you may wish to consider to reduce your health care cost while accessing reasonable service

Clinics & Public Hospitals
There are 5 different types of clinics and a clinic is accessible to every community across the island. Type 1 provides basic heath care services while Type 5, the most advanced, provides basic and specialized health care services. Clinics charge a minimum fee of between $50 and $100 for patients to see a physician, receive treatments and medication for common ailments such as the flu; and a fee of between $250 and $500 for specialist treatment and medication for example STD tests and treatment, ECGs and Pap smear tests.

Public Hospitals administer all types of health care service for a minimum fee, which is charged, based on the service delivered. Treatments include major surgery, which in private hospital cost thousands and sometimes hundreds of thousands.

It is very important that all consumers be aware that Clinics and Public Hospitals are funded and operated by the government, therefore all citizens even those who cannot afford the fees outlined are entitled to treatment and should not be turned away for monetary reasons.

National Health Fund
A recent initiative by the government, the NHF allows persons diagnosed with specific ailments access to medication at a reduced cost. Ailments under this programme include: Asthma, Diabetes, Hypertension, Arthritis, Breast Cancer, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Prostate Cancer, Major Depression, Rheumatic Fever/ Heart Disease, Vascular Disease, Psychosis, High Cholesterol & Ischaemic Heart Disease.

Persons who have been diagnosed and certified to have one of these diseases are eligible for the NHF and once registered and issued with a card, will have access to medication at a greatly reduced cost.

The Jamaica Drug for the Elderly Programme
This programme is designed to assist the elderly to access medication at a reduced price. Persons over the age of 60 are therefore encouraged to become members of this programme.

Affordable Health Insurance
Persons not employed in the formal sector who do not qualify for the National Health programme can access affordable Health Care Insurance through the Blue Cross of Jamaica newly launched low-income health care insurance, Credit Union Health plans and Building societies Health Plans. The benefit of accessing health care insurance from these entities is that it typically covers not only medication, but also doctor visits, emergency treatment and major surgery.

There are other groups and organizations, set up to assist persons with specific ailments e.g. the Diabetes Association of Jamaica, The Jamaica Cancer Society, Jamaica Heart Foundation, who provide their members with benefits that include access to health care services and reduced cost for medication and treatment. So before you complain that you cannot afford health care or spend all your money to see a private physician look at what your options are and weigh the benefits and cost.

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