Pensioners in Clarendon Informed about NIGold

About 600 pensioners in Clarendon have benefited from an educational session on the NIGold Health Plan, which has been introduced by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
The session was held on Wednesday (March 24) at the St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church Hall in May Pen.
The NIGold programme was launched in December 2003 and is being implemented in collaboration with Blue Cross Of Jamaica and the Electoral Office of Jamaica.
Addressing the audience, Minister of Labour and Social Security, Horace Dalley, said that the programme was aimed at providing health benefits for pensioners who had contributed to the National Insurance Scheme.
He noted that his Ministry was committed to increasing the benefits and improving the services for these pensioners through prudent investment of the National Insurance Fund.
“The staff of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security along with all the other partners, departments and agencies are here with us today to make sure that you know what is going on because we have given our commitment that every now and again as soon as we earn more money from the investment of the NIS, then you will get increase in pensions too,” he said.
Director of the National Insurance Scheme, Denzil Thorpe, said that the new health programme catered to persons who have one or more of 14 illnesses and covers all pensioners under the scheme.
He pointed out that no premium was required to be paid by the pensioner and that they were eligible once they had made contributions up to the time of eligibility.
Edward Bailey, Liaison Officer for Government services at Blue Cross of Jamaica said that the programme offered 14 benefits including payment for Room and Board at a Hospital, In-Hospital Miscellaneous expenses, Out Patient services, Surgeons’ and Assistants’ Fees, Anaesthetist Fees, Doctors and Consultant visits, Diagnostic Services, Prescription Drugs and Dental and Optical Services.
He noted that the NIGold Card could be used immediately upon receipt at any participating provider or by making a claim through Blue Cross of Jamaica.