The Office of the Prime Minister has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) from insurance providers and brokers to provide insurance services for the Jamaican Athletes Insurance Plan (JAIP).

The RFP, which was first issued on August 11, is inviting eligible entities to submit their tenders by September 10.

Minister with Responsibility for Sports in the Office of the Prime Minister, Hon. Natalie Neita Headley, made the announcement during a press launch to open nominations for the 11th annual Courtney Walsh Award for Excellence, at Cuddy’z Sports Bar and Restaurant, in New Kingston, on September 3.

In the initial stage, the JAIP will provide basic coverage for up to 1,500 Jamaican athletes across various sporting disciplines. It is open to all sportspersons engaged in a national programme.

The Minister told JIS News that the initiative has gone through all the necessary channels and should be completed soon.

“The process has been a little tedious, but we had to ensure that it went through the actuarial studies and all the vetting procedures necessary to arrive at this place, where we have gone for a request for proposals. A process of evaluation will take place to arrive at the best provider. It’s not just a health insurance scheme for the regular person. It has some peculiarities and it is custom made for our athletes,” she informed.

The scheme will include health screening as well as preventive and remedial health care.

Mrs. Neita Headley said her office will be working closely with the sporting federations to determine eligibility of athletes.

“Athletes can be as young as 12 years of age, depending on if they are involved in gymnastics and that is the age that they enter the sport and are involved in the national programme.  The sporting associations will assist us in determining which athletes are eligible,” she informed.

The scheme will be funded through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) and the National Health Fund (NHF). Discussions are also in progress with the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund to provide funding for the initiative.

http://jis.gov.jm/proposals-invited-for-insurance-coverage-of-athletes/