NHP reassures members as FIMA reshapes medical aid

Sostenus Wilherm

Namibia Health Plan (NHP) has reassured its members that their medical aid benefits and contributions will remain unchanged as the fund prepares for the implementation of the Financial Institutions and Markets Act (FIMA).

The fund held an online members information session on 9 September under the theme “Let’s Talk FIMA: Understanding What FIMA Means for You as an NHP Member”, aimed at explaining the new regulatory framework and what it means for members.

The engagement comes as FIMA introduces strengthened requirements for the governance, accountability, transparency and financial soundness of medical aid funds.

Principal officer of NHP Dantago Garosas said the session was intended to provide members with verified information directly from the fund, allowing them to ask questions, seek clarity and address concerns or misconceptions surrounding the implementation of FIMA.

A key message from the session was that members would not immediately see changes to their existing medical aid arrangements.

“NHP reassured members that their current benefits, chosen benefit options, contributions and access to healthcare services remain unchanged,” Garosas said.

However, the implementation of FIMA will bring operational and governance changes within the fund, including changes concerning responsibility for claims assessing.

NHP board of trustees chairperson Taimi Iileka-Amupanda said FIMA would change the way financial institutions, including medical aid funds, are governed and monitored.

“In practical terms, FIMA changes and strengthens how financial institutions are governed, managed, monitored and held accountable,” Iileka-Amupanda said.

She explained that NHP would have to align its governance arrangements, policies, processes, systems and responsibilities with the requirements of the new regulatory framework.

“For members, the importance of FIMA lies in its focus on responsible fund management, greater transparency, access to information, fair treatment and stronger protection of member interests,” she said.

Iileka-Amupanda stressed that FIMA should not be viewed merely as an administrative change, saying it strengthens the broader framework under which medical aid funds operate and are supervised.

The new framework places greater emphasis on protecting members while ensuring that medical aid funds remain financially sustainable and properly governed.

Garosas said this means stronger oversight and governance within the medical aid environment for NHP members, with increased attention to the long-term sustainability of medical aid funds and the interests of beneficiaries.

She further said communication with members would remain a priority throughout the implementation process.

“We are a fund that wants to be transparent and at the forefront of communication. We always want to keep our members informed and use every opportunity to communicate with them on new developments, ensuring that they have access to healthcare whenever they need it,” Garosas said.

The information session also provided an update on NHP’s preparedness and implementation journey, including the operational changes expected to take place.

Garosas said direct engagement with members was important to prevent uncertainty as the regulatory changes take effect.

She added that the fund would continue providing verified information and updates to members as its FIMA implementation progresses.