Teacher claims N$15 000 deducted but medical aid not activated

A Kavango East teacher alleges he paid an estimated N$15 000 into government’s medical aid scheme over two years without ever receiving a membership number or being able to access benefits.

Speaking to Namibian Sun last week, educator Peter Haita said he applied for medical aid in December 2022.

Deductions of N$600 per month kicked off in February 2023. Despite these ongoing deductions, he said he was repeatedly told he was “not in the system” and could not obtain a membership number.

“I have been deducted every month, but I had no number and no access to benefits. I did not even use a Panado under that medical aid,” Haita said.

Efforts to resolve the matter through his regional HR office were frustrated by frequent staff reshuffles, he added.

“One day the person handling your file is transferred or promoted, and the next day you have to start over,” Haita explained.

Calls to the finance ministry's office in Windhoek went unanswered, and local intermediaries could not trace his registration, he said.

He was also advised that deductions could continue even if his documents had not been fully processed.

Pillar to post

Frustrated, Haita formally applied to cancel his membership in February 2025 and requested a refund for contributions made between February 2023 and March 2025.

While the cancellation request was being processed, deductions continued.

He was later informed that he could not be refunded because he was indeed registered “in the system".

Haita’s medical aid number was finally issued, and the finance ministry confirmed to this publication that he has been officially registered in the system since 12 February 2025, more than two years after deductions began.

“If I was not in the system, where was my money going? And if I was in the system, why did I not have access? The government also contributed during that time. That money must be accounted for,” Haita said.

Despite repeated attempts to be reimbursed, Haita said he has been sent from pillar to post. He added that centralising medical aid processing in Windhoek disadvantages regional civil servants and suspects his case is not unique.

Ministry responds

Ministry of finance spokesperson Wilson Shikoto told Namibian Sun that reimbursement queries fall under the education ministry's HR departments, not finance. “If he wants to know about reimbursement, he must consult his HR. They should direct him. Finance only collects contributions; we do not determine who is reimbursed,” Shikoto said.

He explained that payment of medical aid is compulsory for government employees who sign up.

“If you sign up, you will be deducted whether you use medical aid or not. That is the law. Anyone seeking reimbursement must consult their HR office. If there was a mistake, HR is the one who must correct it,” he added.

Shikoto said it is the responsibility of each HR department to submit civil servants’ information to the finance ministry and to resolve any errors.

He acknowledged the challenges of centralised administration. “Sometimes you need to consult multiple offices to get clarity. That is why it is important to go through HR. They are the custodians of the employee records and will know what can be done,” he said.