Insurance Association Requests Improvements to Coordination on Health Benefit Scheme

 
Robert Sidauruk, Fathan Qorib
 
The Indonesia Life Insurance Association (AAJI) recently sent a letter to the President calling for improvements to the Coordination of Benefit (CoB) scheme as part of the universal social security system that commenced this year. The CoB scheme stipulates cooperation between the Social Security Agency for Health (BPJS Health) and private insurance in providing public health insurance services.
 
In the letter, the AAJI argues that the proposed CoB scheme can ot be effectively implemented. Nini Sumohandoyo, the Head of AAJI’s Communication Department, said that there are a number of significant provisions that need to be changed, such as registration procedures for public health insurance and payment of insurance premiums.
 
Under the proposed CoB scheme, the payment of insurance premiums is supposed to be conducted by business entities (employer) or paid directly by the participant. Previously, participants could also pay premiums through their commercial insurance company.
 
Another issues arising from the proposed CoB is the number of hospitals. There are currently 20 hospitals that will cover CoB participants. However, this amount is to be reduced to only 16 hospitals under the proposed CoB scheme.
 
AAJI is suggesting that there must be at least 1200 hospitals for a comprehensive CoB. AAJI also highlights the classic issue of the inadequate quality and unequal spread of health services throughout Indonesia.
 
“These new provisions that involve employer s reducing the amount of premiums will be difficult to realize. In fact, there is a potential for an increase in the economic costs in implementing the service,” said Mrs. Sumohandoyo.
 
Maryoso Sumaryono, the Head of AAJI’s Regulation and Best Practices Division, suggests that the deadline for registering participants in BPJS Health should be postponed from 1 January 2015 until 1 January 2019, as previously mandated under Presidential Regulation No. 12 of 2013 on Health Security.
 
Mr. Sumaryono also explained that the AAJI has requested that the registration of BPJS Health participants may also be conducted by insurance companies. Moreover, every type of hospital must able to provide health services under the CoB scheme with better provisions for non-health services.
 
“Improvement on these technical matters on CoB should involve all stakeholders,” added Mr. Sumaryono.
 
Hendrisman Rahim, AAJI’s Chairman, believed that the suggestions from his institution will be positively received by the public and increase the number of insured people. Mr. Rahim also said that the letter had been sent to both BPJS Health and the President.
 
“The letter has been sent and AAJI hopes that insurance companies will provide better services to public,” concluded Mr. Hendrisman.
 
(hot/kc)