HEALTH and wellness brand FirstCare Medical Plan announces its launch in Jamaica, providing discounts and benefits at more than 100 health-care providers throughout the island and a solution for the more than two million Jamaicans who do not have medical insurance.

Within just weeks of its launch in mid-September, FirstCare has attracted tens of thousands of visitors to its website, where persons can join online and instantly access a suite of health and wellness benefits. Among the offerings, members can visit in-network private doctors at no out-of-pocket cost at medical centres, including Winchester Surgical & Medical Institute, Apex Health Care Associates, Dunrobin Medical & Wellness Centre, Edgewater Medical, Health Plus Associates, York Medical, Shancare, Baywest Wellness Clinic, and Sekhmet Medical Centre. Members receive discounts at more than 40 in-network specialists and up to 20 per cent off at labs, pharmacies, and imaging centres.

“FirstCare is meeting an urgent need within the community for affordable private health care, and the overwhelming response we have gotten encourages us to ramp up our plans to expand the network throughout the island,” shared Jheanell Thompson, FirstCare Medical Plan country manager.

“We have made the plan accessible for everyone and virtually every budget, with no medical tests required to join, no age limit, and monthly plans starting at just $2,500 for adults.”

FirstCare’s provider network is centred in Kingston, Portmore, and Montego Bay, with additional parishes slated to come on board in the coming months. The plan offers three membership options: FirstCare Jamaica, which offers in-country benefits; FirstCare USA, which provides benefits throughout the United States; and FirstCare Plus, the plan’s most robust offering with benefits in Jamaica and the United States.

“We are currently in the heart of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when we all consider how important primary health care and early detection are; that is one of the main benefits of FirstCare. It provides the peace of mind that comes with knowing you can see a trusted doctor when you need to without a prohibitive price tag.”

In addition to its three membership plans, FirstCare offers a suite of concierge health packages for care in Florida. The packages, which include maternity, cardiology, cancer care, and orthopaedics, are available for all FirstCare members and provide deep discounts of up to 60 per cent off medical services for a nominal access fee.

“FirstCare is a primary health-care plan, but we recognise that many persons may need short-term or ongoing hospitalisation benefits as well,” shared Thompson.

“For this reason, we have negotiated significantly discounted packages with our network of providers in Florida that includes access to a FirstCare medical concierge to coordinate all the details.”

Persons may join FirstCare online with a debit or credit card or visit the brand’s headquarters in Kingston to sign-up in person. New member and entrepreneur Samantha Malcolm describes the plan as “a game changer for individuals but also for business owners like me — I can’t wait to offer my staff a benefit like this.” Malcolm shares she “learned about FirstCare on social media and immediately signed up online because the benefits were great and there were no requirements.”

In the coming months, FirstCare plans to expand its network into St Ann, Clarendon, and Manchester and double its network of providers throughout the island.

For more information on FirstCare, visit https://firstcarejamaica.com.