Poor people need proper Medicare

Poor people need proper Medicare

By Stevie Emilia and Rita A. Widiadana

JAKARTA (JP): You have just lost your job and have a health
problem which deprives you of the opportunity to look another job
that will ensure financial security. In the meantime your
expenses continue to add up.

This is probably the worst case scenario that many Indonesians
hope they will never have to face.

With the ever-increasing number of people losing their jobs
and the toning down of lifestyles due to the economic crisis, it
is not all that improbable that this could happen to you.

Even worse, many Indonesians never learned how to save money
properly and do not know the benefits of health insurance schemes
that cover a variety of medical costs associated with a wide
range of ailments.

Orie Andari Sutadji, head of the Indonesian Insurance
Council's social and health division, has suggested that people
start thinking about taking out health insurance.

"Most people still do not consider health insurance a top
priority. As often is the case, medical costs can turn out to be
astronomical and having health insurance could end up being one
of the best solutions," explained Orie.

However, joining a health insurance scheme is probably the
lowest on people's lists of things to do.

Businesswoman Enny Sukamto Hehuwat shared her views, saying
that she had no confidence in the services and quality of local
health insurance firms.

"I've already taken out life insurance. I've also insured my
private property including cars, houses and my art collection,"
Enny said.

She was wary that local health insurance schemes were not as
accessible as those offered by overseas companies.

"Actually, I need a reliable health insurance policy, but I
don't have any idea which one is the best," added ex-model Enny.

Dino, a driver for a freight forwarder company, has his own
reasons for not having health insurance. Despite the risks of his
job, his company does not provide him or other employees with a
health allowance.

"With my meager salary, how could I possibly pay insurance
premiums, which are very costly? I'm better spending my money on
food. I keep praying that nothing terrible happens to me," said
Dino.

A large number of Indonesians, especially those of the low-
income bracket, are vulnerable to serious health problems. But
the medical services available to them are very limited.

Many Indonesians are unfamiliar with comprehensive health
schemes, and those that are cannot afford the particular scheme
they are interested in.

Often only civil servants, Armed Forces members and employees
of state-owned or multinational firms are covered by medical
insurance.

Only about 13 percent of the more than 200 million population
has health insurance with state-owned health insurance company PT
Askes, state-owned PT Jamsostek or one of the small number of
private health insurance companies.

"Most of them have health insurance only because the premiums
are deducted directly from their paychecks. It is not based on
willingness or awareness of the importance of insurance," said
Orie, who is also a director of PT Askes.

Farmers, small-scale traders and other poor people on the
other hand have to pay for medical services out of their own
pockets.

In a recent seminar on health insurance, economist Sri Mulyani
Indrawati suggested that the government protect these vulnerable
people with a reliable health insurance scheme.

"The government should pay more attention to the provision of
adequate medical services for the poor, pregnant women, children
and low-income workers," explained Sri Mulyani.

These people, she said, deserve equal opportunity in medical
services. In developed countries like Australia, the United
States and several European countries, all citizens are entitled
to government medical care schemes.

"We cannot keep up with those countries in offering Medicare,
but at least the Indonesian government could start it now in this
time of crisis," she added.

At present, only a small number of people can afford to take
out health insurance.

Zumrotin K. Susilo, a consumer activist, pointed out that
Indonesia had PT Askes, which deals in social health insurance.

But people find joining the PT Askes scheme complicated.
"During these critical months, we can feel the benefit of having
health insurance policies," commented Zumrotin.

She added that PT Askes should improve its services because it
deals with the lives of people. "I've noticed so much
discrimination by hospitals and medical staff in providing
medical services to members of the Askes health scheme," she
said.

Various complaints have been voiced by members of Askes health
scheme, including by Sardjono Jatiman, a noted sociologist and a
lecturer at the University of Indonesia.

"I am a member of Askes, but I never use that facility. It is
just that I don't trust Askes or other insurance companies. Their
images here are not so good," explained Sardjono.

A good business image is something lacking in many local
insurance companies.

"Many promotion campaigns for health insurance schemes are
exaggerated. Yet insurance companies must provide their best
services and not cheat their clients," warned Orie.

There are at least 62 insurance companies offering health
insurance programs. The companies include Lippo Life, PT Asuransi
Cigna Indonesia, Dharmala Manulife, PT Asuransi Jiwa Sewu New
York.

Today, when an increasing number of people are losing their
jobs and people's purchasing power is decreasing, health
insurance is probably not viewed as that practical.