Employees now have the possibility to opt for a private health insurance through the contributions of their employers to the National Savings Fund (NSF), said Minister Sheila Bappoo yesterday at a press conference held in Port Louis. She stressed that this is an option open to employees of both the public and private sectors and it is up to them to choose if they want to opt for this plan. The possibility for employees to opt for private medical care was announced in the 2012 Budget speech.
Minister Bappoo recalled that the NSF was set up in 1994 following talks between all stakeholders and it was agreed that employers would contribute 2.5% for each employee in this Fund.
This plan is open to all employees who have contributed to the NSF since January 2012 and their contributions prior to that will remain untouched underlined Minister Bappoo. Concerning the modalities it is strictly between the employee and the insurance company of his choice and the Ministry through a unit which has been set up for this purpose will process the relevant documents after one month to see if the person has enough funds for the plan he has opted.
Minister Bappoo said that employees should inform themselves properly about the health insurance plans they opt for and make sure that the insurance company is registered with the Financial Services Commission. She added that the employee can use the monthly subscription in toto or partially. As at June 2012 some 14 000 employers from both the public and private sectors are contributing 2.5% of the salary of their employees to the NSF.
The Minister said this is being done so as to give the opportunity to employees to have access to private health institutions and stressed that it is only up to the employee to make his choice whether or not to opt for that as access to free health care is open to all.
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