SSB Director Urges Consistent NHI Compliance
Social Security Board Director Lorie A. Freeman has highlighted the critical need for employer and small business compliance to protect the long-term viability of the National Health Insurance scheme. Speaking at the tenth anniversary of NHI, Freeman noted that actuarial reviews confirm regular contributions are essential for financial health and equitable healthcare access across the Virgin Islands. She also reaffirmed that the healthcare program is here to stay and will undergo key digital transformations.
Director of the BVI Social Security Board, Lorie A. Freeman, has emphasized that consistent compliance from employers, the self-employed, and small businesses is indispensable to the long-term financial health and sustainability of the National Health Insurance system. Freeman delivered the message during the tenth anniversary commemorative ceremony of the NHI, underscoring that the future of the territory's healthcare model relies on a collective, shared commitment across the community.
She noted that government entities, healthcare providers, citizens, and employers must all work in tandem to support the system. According to Freeman, recent actuarial assessments of the NHI program have clearly shown that enhanced compliance from employers directly improves the overall financial standing of the fund.
She described active participation as a win-win partnership for the business community, explaining that regular contributions directly translate into a healthier workforce, lower rates of absenteeism, and a more predictable and productive operating environment. Freeman also made a direct appeal to the Virgin Islands' entrepreneurial sector, describing small businesses and the self-employed as the economic lifeblood of the community.
She encouraged independent workers and business owners not to count themselves out of the system, reminding them that timely contributions represent an essential investment in safeguarding their personal health and their continued ability to earn a livelihood. Looking toward the future, the Social Security Board director assured the public that the leadership team remains committed to modernizing the healthcare system.
Key priorities moving forward will include comprehensive digital transformation to improve public access to information, expanding provider networks, and refining policies to address modern healthcare realities. Reassuring residents about the permanence of the territory's healthcare coverage, Freeman declared that the NHI is here to stay and will continue to evolve into a resilient system built to serve and protect future generations.
Primary source: VINO