Health Insurance

Health Insurance in Uganda, Health and Payment in Uganda, Health Insurance and Workers and Employers in Uganda, Medical Insurance and Wages and more on AfricaPay Uganda.

What is health insurance for your workers?

This is a type of insurance in which payments are made when an individual is ill or hurt and commonly takes care of visits to medical personnel and clinic charges. This means that payment is made to an insurance company in advance by the employer to cater for any unforeseen sickness or injuries that a worker may sustain. In this regard, the insurance company then pays for the treatment in case a worker falls sick or is injured, up to the tune paid for by the employer.

What do the regulations state about health insurance?

The Uganda labour laws require employers to insure their workers against injuries or other diseases which may be incurred in the course of their paid work. However, the labour laws do not specify that an employer should also insure workers against other kinds of sicknesses. It is important to note that an employer may, if finances allow, insure his/her employees above what is stipulated in the labour laws. Some employers pay for comprehensive health cover for their workers.

Unfortunately, only a small proportion of employers are currently paying for health insurance for their workers. In many companies, employers are more willing to treat employees in clinics which are operated by the employer. In this case the employer treats the employees free of charge in the company clinic.

What happens if a worker is not insured and gets hurt at work?

The existing labour regulations state when a worker is hurt while at work, even when the worker was hurt due to his or her carelessness, the employer is suppose to pay the medical bills of the worker. This also takes into consideration getting hurt while a worker is commuting from his or her place of residence to where he or she works.

Who pays reimbursement when a worker gets an infection as a result of the nature of his or her work?

The Workers' Compensation Act 2000 states that all employers should pay for insurance of their employees against work-related sicknesses. This is mainly intended to save the employer high costs of treatment in case a worker falls ill, since the burden of treating the worker is shifted to the insurance company, including payment of any benefits which the worker would be entitled to.

On the other hand, if the employer has not complied with the law, that is, by paying for the medical insurance of his or her workers, then the employer has to pay for the treatment of the employee and/or pay benefits to the worker.

Of what significance is health insurance to an employer and his or her workers?

  • There is a higher chance of a worker getting better value health care when he or she has been insured. This assures you, the employer, the commitment of workers who understand you value both their work and lives.
  • It makes the worker calm knowing that his or her health costs have already been covered. With little to be concerned about, the worker can focus on work and therefore make more for the employer’s benefit.
  • It reduces the possibilities of sickness progressing to a grave state due to a low level of income. Employees are less expected to die of curable illnesses - which may sway workers’ morale and lower productivity.
  • It reduces the burden on the employee’s wages which can be utilised for things other than health care. This minimises on demands for wages increments to cater for expanding cost of living associated to health bills.
  • Workers can undertake regular medical tests which decrease the possibilities of falling sick and missing work due to sickness. This will ensure that the productivity of workers is not compromised.

Should a boss also pay for the health insurance of the employee’s family members?

The Workers’ Compensation Act 2000 does not cater for family members of the worker or his or her close relatives. However, in practice, for the purpose of general health insurance employers sometimes include dependents of the worker, especially when the company/organisation is doing relatively well financially.

In relation to the above some negotiated agreements between employers and workers' representatives also include health insurance for the family and/or dependent relatives of the workers, generally up to four dependents.

How can your employees get access to treatment when you have paid for their medical insurance?

The employee is in most cases provided with an identification card which shows that the employer has paid for the health insurance of the worker. The identification can then be presented to any clinic or hospital which has been accredited by the insurance company to offer the health services for which an employer has paid a premium to the insurance company.

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