TTUTA protests over insurance plan again

For the third time in weeks, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) has protested over their UNIMED group health plan and the slow pace at which their claims are being processed.

As dozens of teachers gathered at the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) head office in Port-of-Spain yesterday, TTUTA president Martin Lum Kin told Guardian Media thousands of teachers were distressed, as health claims were taking over a year to be processed. He said it appeared the plan was also in deficit.

Lum Kin recalled the last time the plan was in deficit there was a financial injection by the Government.

He believes the Government is now hesitant to make another injection.

He also said there were hundreds of teachers who were yet to be added to the group health plan due to administrative issues on the MoE’s part.

The monthly deduction is approximately $67 for single coverage and $176 for family coverage.

Lum Kin said teachers were now forced to purchase additional insurance, adding to their financial burdens.

As a result, TTUTA has called for meaningful discussions on the way forward for the plan.

Lum Kin said, “This issue affects all members of the teaching service who are on the plan. It’s a mandatory plan and an employer-run plan and contributions are between both the employer and employee. The employer has no hesitation in deducting the dues for this plan. However, the members who are complaining, are not getting the subsequent remittance of their claims. It was a process that took roughly four weeks. Now, it’s taking 13 months.”

He added, “We have had reports of our members that they would deliver the enrollment card to the Ministry of Education and months after, when there is no deduction and they do their investigation, there is no evidence of them having dropped any documents at the Ministry of Education, so you can understand the frustration of persons having to come into the ministry, do the necessary documentation and then being told there is no evidence of them applying.

“The enrollment should be an automatic enrollment because the ministry has the records of all employees and if you are eligible after two years, that should be an automatic enrollment and cards should be sent out. This shows the inefficiency in record-keeping from the ministry. They are not blameless in this whole scenario and people who are depending on this are being denied at this time. This is the injustice taking place on our hardworking members who contribute tirelessly to nation-building and they are being treated with scant disrespect and discourtesy.”

Lum Kin said if nothing was done, members would exercise all possibilities until the matter is addressed.

But, despite being frustrated, TTUTA said there were no plans to stay away from classes come Monday when schools are scheduled to reopen.

TTUTA said, however, that there were several schools unfit to reopen on Monday, due to failing infrastructure.

These include Mt Hope Secondary, St Joseph Secondary, Aranguez North Secondary and Preysal Government Primary School.

Guardian Media reached out to Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly but up to press time there was no response. (K Fletcher)

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