UNDERSTANDING NHI BAHAMAS
WHAT'S COVERED?
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What’s covered?
In the first phase of NHI Bahamas, all Primary Care services outlined in the Primary Care Benefits Package will be offered at no cost at point of service. Primary Care covers a wide variety of preventative and curative health services provided to you by a family doctor or other Primary Care physician such as an Obstetrician for prenatal services, Internist, Pediatrician, or General Practitioner. Primary Care also includes disease prevention and health promotion as well as early diagnosis and treatment of common diseases. The full benefits package can be found here.
Non-medical benefits
NHI Bahamas goes beyond medical services to ensure all Bahamians receive continuity of care. Your health care is coordinated by your family doctor who you can choose from the private or public sector. Certain public clinics are open longer hours to serve you better. NHI Bahamas helps you and your Primary Care Provider take control of your health.
What is not covered?
In the initial phase of NHI Bahamas coverage, only Primary Care is covered at no cost at point of service. This includes Primary Care visits, labs, diagnostic imaging and some medications prescribed by your Primary Care Provider.
It is important to know what is not covered in this phase:
- Any emergencies that bring you to the hospital like a heart attack, broken bone or severe illness
- Inpatient care while you’re in the hospital
- Surgeries, chemo and radiation therapy
- Medical care provided by some specialists such as appointments with an eye doctor, dentist, physiotherapist, or oncologist
- Special maternity care for complex pregnancies
- Delivery of babies
- MRI and CT Scan
- Overseas care
- Rehabilitative care
Your Primary Care Provider might offer services that are both covered by the Primary Care Benefits Package and not covered. Over time, NHI Bahamas coverage will expand to include additional services, once other Health System Strengthening activities have advanced and the health care system is ready for full implementation.
Primary Care Benefits
Primary Care, which is essentially care that is provided to you by a family doctor or other health professional at the front line of care, includes:
BY THE AGES:
Maternity and infants 0-12
Making sure you have comprehensive prenatal care is important to ensuring that mom and baby are healthy. NHI Bahamas takes care of pregnant women and their babies. Under the primary care benefits package, pregnant women do not have to pay out of pocket for:
- Pregnancy tests
- Pre-natal vitamins
- Primary Care visits
- Blood tests to learn your blood type and check for any diseases
- Ultrasounds to check the baby’s growth and find out the sex
- Screening for genetic defects such as Down Syndrome
Once your baby is born, he or she is covered for Primary Care visits. This includes:
- Tests and measurements at birth
- Immunizations
- Regular check ups including hearing and vision screening
Kids (ages 12 months – 12 years)
Healthy kids are happy kids, and the NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package includes services to help keep your kids healthy. From 24 months to 12 years, your children will receive regular Primary Care visits for:
- Growth measurements
- Hearing and vision measurements
- Developmental screening
- Monitoring of teeth growth and fluoride to prevent tooth decay
- Tuberculosis testing
- Asthma care
- All required immunizations including: chicken pox, measles and booster shots.
Teenagers (aged 13-18)
Teenage years are often when persons form unhealthy habits. Under the NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package, teens can receive:
- Annual check ups
- Assessment of healthy lifestyle choices including: diet and exercise, safe sex and the risks of alcohol and tobacco use
- Mental health screening
- Testing for sexually transmitted infections
- Vaccinations
Men
Men have an elevated risk of developing certain illnesses including heart disease, diabetes, and prostate disease. The NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package helps with the prevention and management of these diseases:
- Monitoring and early detection of disease
- Annual prostate tests for men over the age of 40
- Medication for high blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Counselling on how to reduce risks of diseases like diabetes and alcoholism
Women
Women have unique health care needs, with reproductive health and disease prevention at the centre. The NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package helps women take control of their health by providing:
- PAP smears
- Birth control medication and devices
- HPV vaccine
- Screening for breast and cervical cancer
- Pregnancy care
Elderly
Adults over 50 receive additional benefits to ensure healthy aging. From medication to disease prevention and management, older Bahamians receive:
- Medication to control blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis and other issues
- Regular screening for dementia, depression, alcohol misuse and elder abuse
- Hormone therapy for women going through menopause
BY THE AILMENT:
Asthma
Asthma is a concern for persons of all ages. If poorly managed, asthma can result in a lower quality of life. If you think you or your child has asthma, the NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package covers:
- Testing of lung function
- Lung X-ray
- EKG of the heart
- If diagnosed, asthma medications such as inhalers and allergy drugs
Cancer and cancer prevention
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death amongst Bahamians. Preventative measures, including regular screening, can help identify cancer at the early stages before it becomes more serious. The NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package covers:
- Specific tests that screen for prostate, breast and cervical cancers
- Blood tests to assess risks of developing cancer
- HPV vaccine
- High-risk HPV testing for women
Diabetes
1 in 4 Bahamians have diabetes. Additionally, 80% of Bahamians are overweight, which significantly increases the risk of developing diabetes. The NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package can help you prevent or manage diabetes through:
- Blood sugar monitoring
- At home glucose monitoring
- Management assistance through regular Primary Care visits
- Essential medication such as Insulin
Hypertension and high cholesterol
It is important to know how to prevent or manage high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package help patients through:
- Counselling on healthy eating and exercise to lower risk
- Blood pressure and blood sugar testing
- Cholesterol screening
- Analysis of liver and kidney functions
- EKG to assess heart function
Labs, diagnostic imaging and medication
With NHI Bahamas, eligible persons no longer have to pay for certain lab tests or diagnostic imaging to find out if they are sick. This includes:
- Blood tests to check immune function, blood sugar, cholesterol, hormone levels and organ function
- Blood tests for HIV and blood disorders like sickle cell anemia
- Mammograms
- X-rays
- Ultrasounds
- Some medication provided at no cost
Mental health
Too many Bahamians suffer with mental illness in silence. Left untreated, mental illness can negatively impact your quality of life. With the NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package you can receive:
- Mental health assessment and referrals to a specialist
- Certain medications
