Ministry of Health Health Insurance Card Issuance System, 2022

·        (Neglect of the Elderly) !

·        Episode No. (10)

-         The State Audit and Administrative Control Bureau (SAACB) conducted a compliance audit of the system for issuing health insurance cards at the Ministry of Health for the year 2022, and some partner entities, in accordance with the categories stipulated in the system. According to the report, the total number of cards issued was 249,931 cards, covering 883,655 beneficiaries, distributed among the categories: government employees (34%), unions (32%), Green Line workers (25%), group subscriptions (5%), municipalities (3%), and other optional (1%).!

-         It was observed that the health insurance system is not comprehensive, for example, for the category of the elderly automatically and without intermediaries!.. To my knowledge, there is no provision stating that the elderly are insured free of charge, as the matter was limited to the possibility that an elderly person may subscribe through one of his children by including him in the child's health insurance card if the child is a government employee.. Or this elderly person may resort to one of the unions scattered here and there.. to be a first intermediary on the path to subscribing to health insurance..... In contrast, we see that the elderly in most countries of the world.. including Jordan, are covered by health insurance automatically, where they are exempted from fees or pay nominal fees.!

-         The main substantive observations cited by the Bureau in its report are listed below:

1-     Weak commitment to achieving the Health Strategy 2021-2023, and failure to develop the system in line with changes.

2-     Absence of a clear policy for dealing with partner entities, and lack of written mechanisms and supervisory procedures to regulate the issuance of insurance, especially free insurance.

3-     Discrepancies in data between the Ministry of Health and partner entities, and absence of electronic linkage to ensure data accuracy and integrity.

4-     Weak field oversight and periodic inspection of beneficiary entities.

5-     Granting free health insurance sometimes without fulfilling the approved conditions or supporting documents, including by the Ministry of Social Development.

6-     Incomplete procedures at some bodies and unions (Hebron Reconstruction Committee, Wall and Settlements Commission, Federation of Labor Unions) to verify beneficiaries in accordance with legal and geographic conditions.

7-     The need to improve and develop electronic programs for managing health insurance, and to control the authorities for data entry, insurance renewal, and implementation or amendment of financial contributions.

·         Also listed below are some of the prominent recommendations included in the above Bureau report

1-     Develop legal legislation for health insurance in line with the principle of universality.

2-     Ensure that everyone obtains health insurance without mediation, in accordance with prevailing legal legislation.

3-     Integrate free health insurance into the formal system with supervisory controls to verify those entitled.

4-     Commit to granting health insurance to persons with disabilities according to the approved disability percentages.

5-     Strengthen the procedures of the Ministry of Social Affairs and ensure its compliance with standards.

6-     Establish supervisory controls to ensure documentation of documents and evidence for all beneficiaries.