The Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) today called for health insurance providers to lower their rates.

At a press conference this afternoon union president Chris Furbert described the insurance increases as “alarming and unacceptable”.

And he called for an independent body to regulate the Island’s insurance rates.

“[Government’s] HIP [programme] has increased by 24 percent and standard hospital rates are up by 13 percent,” he said. “The BIU sent a letter to insurance companies on February 15 asking for them to consider freezing their rates. Only one company has agreed to meet with us. The others all said ‘it’s just business as usual’.”

Mr. Furbert said the BIU is to hold a public meeting on the subject at 5.30 p.m. tomorrow night.

For the full story see tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.