Health News of Thursday, 10 June 2010

Source: GNA

Ghana launches an innovative Health Insurance Policy

Tema, June 10, GNA - A new and innovative insurance policy, to provi de retirement plans and business opportunities to clients was launched in Te ma on Wednesday. It is the initiative of the management of Health Organisation for Wellness (HOW) Limited, an NGO headed by Dr Aloysius Kwakumey, a medical practitioner.

Launching the policy, Dr Kwakumey said clients who did not fall sick

for three months would receive 10 per cent of their contributions that wo uld be invested in a retirement plan to cater for their health needs during retirement. He said Ghana was the first country in Africa to undertake the polic y that had been in existence in the US and ensuring clients were healthy. Dr Kwakumey explained that the policy would benefit clients who paid

premiums for at least two years, and 10 per cent discount given to a grou p of 10 clients while students would receive 33 per cent discount on their premiums. He said the policy targeting the working class had 14 products for beneficiaries to choose.

Premium for the products range from GH¢15.00 to GH¢300.00 and al lows clients to choose their own physicians. The products include five per cent monthly referrals for clients who

register new clients, retirement dividends, and free education forums for

clients, rehabilitation facilities, mobile emergency clinics and death benefits. Dr Kwakumey said the policy was multi-faceted and developed to help clients and determined to launch it worldwide by 2020. Under the policy, swipe identity cards are used and only active clie nts can have access to medical care.

A client becomes dormant after defaulting payment for three months a nd could reactivate the policy after rectifying the situation and beginning afresh. The policy would deal with private health practitioners until all bureaucracies surrounding government institutions have been resolved. 10 June 10