Workers ‘must feel cheated’

Fyzabad MP Dr Lackram Bodoe
Fyzabad MP Dr Lackram Bodoe

UPDATE:

As the November 30 deadline date for the closure of state owned oil company Petrotrin draws closer, Fyzabad MP Dr Lackram Bodoe is questioning the terms and conditions of a new medical plan that has been put in place for its retirees.

In an internal memo to all employees and retirees dated November 16, and signed by deputy chairman Reynold Ajodhasingh, Petrotrin said it had partnered with Sagicor to offer all “employees, retirees and their enrolled dependants medical insurance coverage under a medical plan.”

The new plan’s administrator is Global Financial Brokers with Petrotrin saying that it will pay 100 per cent of the cost of insurance premiums for 24 months from December 1, 2018 to November 30, 2020.

In a media release yesterday, Bodoe said there seemed to be “more questions than answers” regarding the new medical plan and wondered whether the retirees would be able to afford medical care after the 24 months had elapsed.

“Former employees, dependents, and retirees must feel cheated by this new arrangement since one of the terms and conditions of their employment was medical care for life. As a result, many of them would not have felt the need for, nor sought separate medical insurance.

“After this new plan expires in 24 months many of those who will need it most, like the elderly and retirees, could be without medical insurance since the premiums will be exorbitant due to their age and pre-existing medical conditions.”

He also asked how the medical services provider was selected and whether services covered by this new provider would be the same as under Petrotrin’s previous medical plan.

He also questioned the rationale for shutting down the Augustus Long Hospital and the other healthcare facilities operated by Petrotrin saying the hospital had undergone major upgrades in 2013.

“These upgrades included a new operating theatre and a modern High Dependency Unit. This places the hospital in a unique position to provide additional clinical services as well to become a leader in industrial medicine and emergency care for victims of industrial injuries and accidents. Those who work in the industrial belt, from Point Lisas to Point Fortin, can only continue to benefit from this proposed arrangement.

“Moreover, the abandonment of the Petrotrin medical facilities will ultimately increase the burden on the public healthcare system, a system some say is on the verge of collapse under this present administration.”

Bodoe said the workers should be treated in a “more fair and humane manner” and called on the Minister of Energy to rethink the medical plan.

Meanwhile, the Petrotrin memo said a company team as well as members of Sagicor and Global Financial Brokers would be hosting a “series of presentation and enrolment sessions to share details on the new plan, answer questions and have members sign in.”

The memo stated that everyone must be enrolled in the plan to be eligible to access the benefits.
The sessions are scheduled to be held at the Petrotrin Sports Club and the Clifton Hill Club with retirees and workers attending the sessions based on their last names from November 20-29.

ORIGINAL STORY:

As the November 30 deadline date for the closure of state owned oil company Petrotrin draws closer, Fyzabad MP Dr Lackram Bodoe is questioning the terms and conditions of a new medical plan that has been put in place for its retirees.

In an internal memo to all employees and retirees, dated November 16, and signed by deputy chairman Reynold Ajodhasingh, Petrotrin stated it has partnered with Sagicor to offer all “employees, retirees and their enrolled dependants medical insurance coverage under a medical plan.”

The new plan’s administrator is Global Financial Brokers with Petrotrin stating that it will pay 100 per cent of the cost of insurance premiums for a period of 24 months–from December 1, 2018–November 30, 2020.

In a media release, Bodoe said there seemed to be “more questions than answers” regarding the new medical plan and wondered whether the retirees would be able to afford medical care after the 24 months had elapsed.

“Former employees, dependants, and retirees must feel cheated by this new arrangement since one of the terms and conditions of their employment was medical care for life. As a result, many of them would not have felt the need for, nor sought separate medical insurance.

"After this new plan expires in 24 months many of those who will need it most, like the elderly and retirees, could be without medical insurance since the premiums will be exorbitant due to their age and pre-existing medical conditions.”

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