Two top officials of the National Health Insurance Authority have been contradicting themselves on reports that government has pegged the one-time health insurance premium at GHS100.00. The Deputy Director in charge of Public Affairs at the Authority, Mr Eric Ametor-Quarmyne, told Joy News’ Sammy Darko that government has settled on GHS100.00 for the one-time premium on the health insurance as promised by the Mills-led government in its 2008 manifesto. He however emphasized that “this one hundred is not the actuarially determined one that should be paid by subscribers.” He said even though the GHS100.00 is not enough to finance health care for individuals, government will take care of the short falls through budgetary allocations and the national health insurance levy. He explained that latest by September this year, the one-time premium will become operational and those whose annual subscriptions have not expired will stay on until the end of the year. Asked whether he thinks people can afford the premium, Mr. Ametor-Quarmyne said “this is a fair amount which the actuarial department has determined. It is possible for people to pay if they actually prioritise their needs and health [care].” But Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Mr. Sylvester Mensah, told Joy FM, it is not entirely accurate that government has adopted the GHS100.00 one-time premium. He said the authority is still proposing which amount to be charged, stressing that “government has not yet confirmed the amount so it is inaccurate to say that government has confirmed a certain amount.” He revealed though, that the Authority is proposing between a GHS100.00 and GHS200.00 Mr. Mensah said the Authority is working with government to ensure that the amount to be approved can give all Ghanaians “financial access to health care” in the country. He however stated that the one-time premium would be rolled out by September “or may be earlier.”