Adachi in an interview, said heads from Palau Royal Resort, Palau National Communication Corporation, Palau Public Utility Corporation and Palau Community College will convene a meeting next week after the Micronesian Games to write a letter to the OEK.
He said they will ask the OEK for possible amendments of the health insurance law.
The Koror State employees, Adachi, said are already member of a private insurance company. They executed an agreement with the Calvo-Select care and they are now members for three years.
He said that if the law will take effect on October, employees are mandated to pay healthcare insurance. Thus, employees will double their health contributions.
The health insurance law was signed by President Johnson Toribiong in May. This law requires all employees to have coverage for healthcare costs he or she incurs.
The new health insurance law is comprised of two components, the Medical Savings Fund, made of individual Medical Savings Accounts. Under the new statute all employed persons in Palau, as well as their employees and the self-employed will pay into the Medical Savings Fund.
The fund will be comprised of individual Medical Savings Accounts, which may be used to cover most medical services, including regular check-ups and outpatient services.
The health insurance benefit will complement these accounts, covering higher-cost medical procedures, including those that require impatient care at the Belau National Hospital or medical referrals.
The proposed payment into the fund are the following: for employees, a minimum of 2.5% of their insured earnings; for employers, a minimum of 2.5% of their employees earnings; and for the self-employed, will pay both the employee’s and employer’s share for a total of minimum contribution of 5% of insured earnings.
The health insurance benefit will generally cover impatient care at the Belau National Hospital and off-island care that is approved by the Medical Referral Committee.
