What’s primary care?

Understanding what primary health care is, can be helpful to someone who is not sure whether or not they need it. Since each person is unique, there are a variety of conditions a patient may need treatment for. This is why we strive to customize the treatment to the patient’s needs. The full benefits package can be found below:

What’s covered?

Under the current Primary Care benefits package, select services are offered at no cost at the point of care. Primary Care covers a wide variety of preventative and curative health services provided to you by a family doctor or other Primary Care physician. Primary Care also includes disease prevention and health promotion as well as early diagnosis and treatment of common diseases. The full benefits package can be found here:

By the ages

  • Maternity and infants (0-12 years)

    NHI Bahamas provides access to prenatal care to ensure that mother and baby are healthy during pregnancy. Regular prenatal care throughout your pregnancy includes:

    • Pregnancy tests
    • Primary Care visits
    • Blood tests to check for any diseases

    Infants are also eligible for Primary Care visits upon enrollment, this includes:

    • Tests and measurements at birth
    • Immunizations
    • Regular check ups including hearing and vision screening
  • Kids (12 months – 12 years)

    Healthy kids are happy kids, and the NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package includes services to help keep your kids healthy. From 24 months to 12 years, your children will receive regular Primary Care visits for:

    • Growth measurements
    • Hearing and vision screening
    • Developmental screening
    • Tuberculosis testing
    • Asthma care
    • All required immunizations including: chicken pox, measles, and booster shots
  • Adults

    Teenager

    Under the NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package, teens can receive:

    • Annual check ups
    • Assessment of healthy lifestyle choices including: diet and exercise, safe sex and the risks of alcohol and tobacco use
    • Mental health screening
    • Testing for sexually transmitted infections
    • Vaccinations

    Men

    Men have an elevated risk of developing certain illnesses including heart disease, diabetes, and prostate disease. The NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package helps with the prevention and management of these diseases:

    • Monitoring and early detection of disease
    • Annual prostate tests for men over the age of 40
    • Counselling on how to reduce risks of diseases like diabetes and alcoholism

    Women

    Women have unique health care needs, with reproductive health and disease prevention at the center. The NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package helps women take control of their health by providing:

    • PAP smears
    • Screening for breast and cervical cancer
    • Pregnancy care
    • Annual examinations
    • Cancer Prevention

    Elderly

    Adults over 50 receive additional benefits to ensure healthy aging. Older Bahamians receive:

    • Regular screening for dementia, depression, alcohol misuse and elder abuse
    • Management of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes

By the ailment

  • Asthma

    • Asthma is a concern for persons of all ages. If poorly managed, asthma can result in a lower quality of life. If you think you or your child has asthma, the NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package covers regular asthma care visits.
  • Cancer prevention

    Cancer is one of the leading causes of death amongst Bahamians. Preventative measures, including regular screening, can help identify cancer at the early stages before it becomes more serious. The NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package covers:

    • Specific tests that screen for prostate, breast, and cervical cancers
    • Blood tests to assess risks of developing cancer
  • Diabetes

    Did you know that 1 in 4 Bahamians have elevated blood sugar levels that suggest they are at risk for diabetes? Additionally, 80% of Bahamians are overweight, which significantly increases the risk of developing diabetes.

    The NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package can help you prevent or manage diabetes through:

    • Blood sugar monitoring
    • Management assistance through regular Primary Care visits
  • Hypertension and high cholesterol

    Did you know that 16% of Bahamians aged 25-64 have high cholesterol and one-third have high blood pressure?

    It is important to know how to prevent or manage high cholesterol and high blood pressure. The NHI Bahamas Primary Care Benefits Package help patients through:

    • Counselling on healthy eating and exercise to lower risk
    • Blood pressure and blood sugar testing
    • Cholesterol screening
    • Analysis of kidney and liver function

Labs

  • Labs

    With NHI Bahamas, eligible persons no longer have to pay for certain lab tests to find out if they are sick. This includes:

    • Blood tests to check immune function, blood sugar, cholesterol, hormone levels, and organ function
    • Blood tests for HIV and blood disorders like sickle cell anemia

Building trust and familiarity with your Primary care provider

One of the biggest advantages of having a primary care provider is developing a long-term relationship with them. With regular checkups, such as annual wellness visits, your provider will get to know a lot about you and your health, such as:

  • Your current state of health
  • Your medical history and family medical history
  • Your treatment preferences and challenges
  • Your personality and lifestyle

Your provider will use this information to tailor your care to fit you as an individual and will not use a one-size-fits-all approach

Over time, you will build trust with your provider and will feel comfortable talking with them about your health concerns. It’s easier to discuss sensitive topics with someone you know and trust than with a stranger. The more candid you can be with your provider, the better they will be able to provide you with the healthcare you need.

Why are regular checkups with your primary care provider important?

When managing your care, your primary care provider considers all of the information that he or she has learned about you. Then, they work with you to create a health plan to keep you healthy, disease-free, and living your life to the fullest.

Your provider can teach you ways to make better choices about your health by helping you:

  • Quit smoking
  • Eat healthier foods
  • Manage stress
  • Keep track of your vaccinations

Your PCP will also:

  • Recommend screening tests based on your risk factors to detect diseases in their earliest stages, often before symptoms even start to show—for example, lung cancer screening
  • Treat any common illnesses and injuries that may arise—like an ear infection, a cold, or a sprained ankle
  • Help you manage chronic health conditions—such as COPD, diabetes, and high blood pressure
  • Refer you to a medical specialist, as needed—like an oncologist or a surgeon
  • What's not covered?

    • Diagnostic imaging
    • Pharmacy services and medications
    • Any emergencies such as a heart attack, broken bone
    • Inpatient care while you’re in the hospital
    • Surgeries, chemo, and radiation therapy
    • Vision, dentist, physiotherapist, or oncologist
  • What's not covered?

    • Special maternity care for complex pregnancies
    • Delivery of babies
    • MRI and CT Scan
    • Overseas care
    • Rehabilitative care
    • Medication

Please call or visit our office for enrollment or any other program inquiries. (242) 396-8500

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