‘74% of Jordanians are health insured’

AMMAN — Only 74 per cent of Jordanians are covered by one type of health insurance, and there should be a mechanism to expand coverage, a Social Security Corporation (SSC) representative said on Wednesday.

Mohammad Tarawneh, assistant of the SSC director for studies and information, said of the total population that is insured, 39 per cent are covered by public insurance, 23 per cent through the Royal Medical Services and 11 per cent through private insurance.

He noted that 23 per cent do not have any insurance, and there are plans to include SSC subscribers under health insurance through the corporation.

Tarawneh made the remarks at the “Social Protection Floors in Jordan: Challenges and Opportunities” conference organised by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Phenix Centre for Economic and Informatics Studies.

The SSC official added that one of the challenges that the corporation is faced with is covering those who work in the informal economy under the social security umbrella and health insurance, stressing that the actuarial status of the SSC is secure until 2055.

He noted, however, that a review should be done at the SCC to ensure its security for 100 years.

During the one day conference, participants in three sessions discussed the concept of social protection floors in Jordan, and seeing them as human rights.

Ahmad Awad, the director of the Phenix Centre, said that for 60 years, social protection has become a basic component of the human rights system.

Citing SSC figures from 2012, he said that 52 per cent of workers are paid salaries that are equal to or under the poverty line in Jordan, while 40 per cent of workers in the Kingdom are not covered by social security.

“I expect that these figures are higher now due to the difficult economy and the refugee crisis,” Awad added.

He also noted that the quality of education and health services is deteriorating now and there should be coordination among the concerned entities to ensure the proper social protection of people in the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Ursula Kulke, senior regional social security specialist at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), said social protection has been high on the ILO agenda since its establishment in 1919.

She stressed the importance of social protection, with a special focus on social security, noting that it supports economic growth, advances poverty reduction and leads stability in the economy.