Aasandha not ceased; choice between private insurance or Aasandha

National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has affirmed that the national health insurance scheme, Aasandha, has not been ceased for any citizen while emphasizing the reforms to Aasandha is aimed at halting the use of two insurance schemes.

The reforms to Aasandha have prompted concern from any members of the general public who have accused the government of ceasing Aasandha, which each Maldivian citizen is entitled to.

Concerns have also been raised, citing individuals with financial capacity to take out private insurances will only be eligible for Aasandha once they have reached the limit on the respective insurance scheme.

NSPA’s CEO Heena Waleed addressed the concerns during a press conference on Sunday, during which she emphasized that individuals holding private insurances were safe on two fronts; their private insurance and Aasandha.

“People without private insurance will only have one layer, that is Aasandha,” she added.

Heena said this means Aasandha will be issued in circumstances where private insurance is not available.

Even at present, Heena detailed that private clinics and hospitals inquire from the patient whether they have private insurance and then grant the choice for the patient to opt for either Aasandha or private insurance.

“That is a practice at present even [the chance to opt for whichever insurance they want],” she said.

Henceforth, Heena said if the patient opts for private insurance, they will not receive Aasandha and if the patient opts for Aasandha, they will not receive private insurance.

She noted that Aasandha would nevertheless be available under any circumstance where a service is not covered by private insurance.

“Aasandha will kick-in at the point when patients holding private insurance run out of their package, when something is not covered under the private insurance policy or when the patient is forced to pay up from their own pockets for medical bills,” she said.

Medications covered under Aasandha even for private insurance holders

Speaking further, Heena underscored that most companies offering private insurance do not have arrangements with companies apart from State Trading Organization (STO) to cover medications.

Subsequently, she said the prescription can be written under Aasandha even if a service is procured from a healthcare facility with private insurance.

“Meaning, prescriptions can be issued Aasandha just as before. This was the previous rule. Even if private insurance is there, Aasandha will be available under any circumstance where the private insurance do not cover,” she added.

The new Aasandha reforms are only applicable to outpatient services with the same policy in place for inpatient services.