Senators have raised concerns about private health insurance providers that discontinue coverage for members in retirement, leaving them vulnerable to high medical costs. They argue that these gaps in coverage undermine financial security in retirement, forcing senior citizens to deplete savings or face difficulties accessing the needed healthcare. The issue came to light on Monday, October 20, during a session of the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, which met with the Minister of Public Service and Labour, Christine Nkulikiyinka, to assess efforts to improve the welfare of the elderly. ALSO READ: Rwandan MP leads bid for universal healthcare in East Africa Senator Sosthène Cyitatire cited a personal example, indicating that his wife, who has private insurance through her employment at a bank, was worried about losing coverage upon retirement. Fortunately, Cyitatire explained, his family remains protected under his insurance under RAMA, the public workers’ medical insurance scheme managed by the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB). For those not covered by RAMA, there is nothing to fall back on, the senator said, indicating that while private sector employees sometimes enjoy good benefits including salaries and healthcare during their careers, their medical coverage ends immediately upon retirement. Some retirees, he exposed, even those with substantial pensions, face difficulties enrolling in new insurance plans after age 60 or 65, as private insurers often classify them as high-risk due to their age. ALSO READ: RSSB pledges more social security coverage after ILO training He suggested that retired private sector workers who contributed to the pension fund managed by RSSB should also be eligible for medical insurance of which it is custodian – provided that they pay due contributions. “A 60-year-old person who lives in fear cannot live longer,” he said, referring to retirees’ anxiety over losing insurance protection. Senators proposed that there should be ways to offer sustainable, long-term plans that protect individuals beyond their working years – to ensure that retirees are not left without critical health coverage when they need it most. The labour minister told the senators that the government would consider the issue to find a possible solution. “The welfare of both public and private sector workers is our concern,” Nkulikiyinka said, adding that the matter would be discussed with RSSB. Legal context According to the 2015 law governing health insurance schemes in Rwanda, retirees who are covered by public health insurance, such as RAMA, continue to receive coverage after retirement. However, those with private or commercial insurance depend on the terms of their contracts – meaning their post-retirement coverage is not guaranteed.
