Scores of taxi drivers have been left in limbo after their insurer axed their health policy.

Canadian Life Assurance wrote to Island Wide Taxi Service last week saying that group coverage will cease from May 1.

Gordon Flood of Island Wide Taxi Service said at least a dozen drivers were affected with the company but many others would also lose out.

He said: "It's very serious because people who have had insurance for a number of years and paid into it and were maybe getting to a stage where they are going to have to make a claim aren't going to have the benefit.

"You get some people who have been in that policy for 20 or 30 years and were maybe getting to a stage where they need open heart surgery."

He said drivers were considering banding together in larger numbers to make it more attractive for another insurer to take them on after Canadian Life found them uneconomic.

He said: "I would say their claims went up, we have a number of older drivers claiming."

Mr. Flood said the profession was getting older as a whole.

"We are not getting the younger people, a lot of them don't have the $120,000 for a permit," said Mr. Flood.

He denied taxi driving was a particularly stressful job but he said drivers who weren't disciplined could miss out on getting enough exercise.

But he added: "I am sure we will get coverage."

Government HIP (Hospital Insurance Plan) coverage was a possibility said Mr. Flood but it lacked dental and prescription drug discount coverage.

He said: "Companies will be actively looking to come up with an alternative for drivers."