Taxi drivers left out in the cold by their health insurer are set to sign with BF&M.

Around 30 drivers were recently dropped from a group health plan by Canadian Life Assurance. The policy ran out yesterday leaving older drivers needing treatment in the lurch, despite years of paying premiums.

Gordon Flood of Island Wide Taxi Service said drivers were likely to go with BF&M despite premiums going up by a third.

He said: “It's sort of high but it's the best quote we got. I have heard a couple of guys have signed up already.”

He said basic cover would cost $409 compared to the previous price of $269, while adding dental will cost a driver $441.

Mr. Flood said drivers had not heard from Transport Minister Dr. Ewart Brown despite his promise to lobby Finance Minister Eugene Cox on their behalf.

Mr. Flood, who is head of the Bermuda Taxi Owners Association said: “Whether he contacted radio cabs I don't know, he didn't contact me.”

He said the axing of the taxi drivers from health cover had wider implications.

He said: “Apparently legally they can do it. Everyone is affected. Health cover can be cancelled anytime they feel like it.

“It not only affects drivers, but anyone deemed to be unhealthy. I don't know how they could single out taxi drivers.”

Bermuda Taxi Owners Association spokesman Lee Tucker said taxi drivers were still very unhappy with the high premiums which for a married couple could see them forking out half of the driver's monthly income.

He said: “I would have thought the Finance Minister would have come back to us after the Transport Minister said he would take it up.

“Government should have interceded and said you are not able to do this type of thing - take money for cover and then when its needed just stop it.”

BF&M Senior Vice President Carol Bassett said the company had yet to secure the taxi drivers.

She said: “We gave them a quote but they haven't signed anything yet.”

However a source at Bermuda Radio Cabs said they were about to accept the BF&M quote.