Being Insured

I was watching an English drama series, 'The Good Wife' where it discuss about laws, family and political issues. One of its episode has caught my attention. It was about a 23-months-pregnant woman who was trying to get her insurance company to cover the surgery cost of her fetus. The fetus need a balloon catheter to be inflated in the heart to keep it alive or else it won't survive. Well, it's not about the case that I'm going to write a review on, instead it's more about health insurance.

In Indonesia there are several insurance policies to cover the health care cost of its citizen.

• Jamsostek - A social security based program for private employers and employees where it consists of; Employment Injury, Death, Health Insurance, and a provident fund type Old Age Benefit. It also covers their families, therefore the premium paid by the employer for unmarried employee is only 3% while for the married employee is double(6%). Not all of the private companies have to join Jamsostek. For those companies with at least 10 employees and a monthly payroll of over one million rupiah, with no or poor social security scheme, they are mandated to enrol their employees in Jamsostek.
  

• Askes - As for civil servants, their health insurance cover is Askes. The members of Askes contribute 2% of their monthly salary. All of members are entitled to comprehensive benefits considered medically necessary regardless of their rank and income. Askes pay the provider, which usually consists of public health centers and public hospital. Prospective payment method is used by Askes to pay the providers.
  

• Asabri - It is a counterpart fund for the armed forces and police. It provides similar lump-sum retirement benefits and pensions.

In 2005, a new health card system for the poor, Askeskin is introduced to replace Kartu Sehat. Askeskin is designed to increase access to, and the quality of, health services for the poor. For as low as Rp. 5000 per month per card holder, these people can receive basic outpatient health care and third class hospital care for free. Those who are less poor pay for their own premiums. Askeskin covers obstetric service package, mobile health services and special services for remote areas and islands, immunization programmes and medicines.

With these health insurance schemes, more and more people are now covered. However some measurements need to be taken to extend health care insurance for a wider coverage. The government should increase the budget for health care aspect for the benefits of all.


REFERENCES :
1. Indonesia : Providing Health Insurance For The Poor

2. Health care System Country Notes Asian Region - Indonesia

3. Social Health Insurance for The Poor : Targeting and Impact of Indonesia's Askeskin Program

Abbreviation :
Jamsostek = Jaminan Sosial Tenaga Kerja
Askes = Asuransi Kesehatan
Asabri = Asuransi Sosial Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia
Askeskin = Asuransi Kesehatan Masyarakat Miskin