Insurance program awareness low<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Medical costs may be rising but public awareness
\non the importance of health insurance remains low, according to a
\ndirector of the state-run insurance firm PT Asuransi Kesehatan
\nIndonesia (Askes).<\/p>\n
The firm's operations director, Sulastomo, said Thursday that
\npeople still put basic needs such as food, housing, clothing and
\neducation before health insurance.<\/p>\n
"Health insurance is a relatively new concept for most
\nIndonesians. People need to know that health insurance is
\nimportant," Sulastomo said.<\/p>\n
Officially, there are 24 million civil servants, war veterans,
\npensioners and retired military personnel who have health
\ninsurance polices. Sixteen million of them are with Askes.<\/p>\n
Another 520,000 people, from state enterprises and the private
\nsector, participate voluntarily in Askes' program.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Journalists' Association and PT Askes are
\nplanning to raise awareness by running joint seminars on
\nMobilization of Funds for Health Care Costs.<\/p>\n
The seminar will be held in Yogyakarta on July 3, Surabaya on
\nJuly 5 and Jakarta on July 7.<\/p>\n
The seminars are expected to feature local and foreign health
\nand insurance experts, including Paul Torrens of University of
\nCalifornia's School of Public Health in Los Angeles, Glenn
\nMelnick from Rand Corporation's Health Care Division and Paul
\nRitzen and from the Cz. Group in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
Askes officials say that health care costs are rising at such
\nan alarming rate that they will surpass the inflation rate.<\/p>\n
Infectious diseases are on the decline but diseases caused by
\nlifestyles changes because of modernization are increasing.<\/p>\n
Lifestyle health problems include cardiovascular illness --
\nincluding heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke --
\ndiabetes melitus and cancer. These are expensive to treat and
\ndiagnose early.<\/p>\n
Economic growth in Indonesia means people want better
\nhealth care and health insurance. And many foreign and domestic
\ninvestors are keen to get into the health market. (40)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/insurance-program-awareness-low-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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