PAYMENTS made for health and disability coverage by local insurers give some idea of the cost of medical services in Jamaica.

In 2021, health seeking behaviours returned to normality, compared to the year in which the novel coronavirus disease was in its infancy. Total health claims settled were valued at $22.79 billion which was 13 per cent more than the year before.

 

Comparatively, health claims in 2020 were $20.15 billion. This, itself, was 10 per cent less than 2019 when health insurance claims were $22 billion.

 

In 2020 during COVID-19, all categories under health saw a decline in claims, the sole exception being maternity, which saw a 10 per cent uptick from $186 million to $205 million in claims.

 

Health claims include hospitalisation, surgery, doctors fees, lab/X-Ray, prescription drugs, maternity dental, optical, disability and a category labelled “others”.

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sunday-finance/private-health-insurers-payout-billions_247875