Dear Sir,

This is an open letter to Argus Insurance, BF&M and the people of Bermuda. I am writing this as someone who does not have children, but who cares deeply about the health and future of all children and their families in our community.

It is deeply troubling, and frankly disgraceful, that Argus Insurance and BF&M have decided to remove Boston Children’s Hospital from their Preferred Provider Network plans. Boston Children’s is not just any hospital. It is world-renowned, often a last resort for families with the most complex and serious paediatric cases.

By quietly removing this hospital from the preferred list, you have left countless families facing impossible choices: take on crushing medical debt or settle for lesser care for their children, often in the middle of treatment plans. That is not affordable care. That is corporate cost-cutting, plain and simple, hidden behind comforting PR statements about viability.

This change did not come with fair warning. Many paediatricians were blindsided. Families are finding out only when their referrals are rejected, when they are already at their most vulnerable. Healthcare decisions should not come from surprise posts on social media or unexpected bills.

Let us not forget that Argus and BF&M recently merged into the largest insurance entity in Bermuda. They have celebrated rising profits and tens of millions in net income. At the same time, they have chosen to limit families’ access to one of the best children’s hospitals in the world to protect their bottom line.

Meanwhile, CG Insurance continues to cover Boston Children’s Hospital and other top-ranked hospitals in the US at 100 per cent for people on its Major Medical plans. This proves that keeping access to world-class care is possible when an insurer chooses to put families first instead of profits.

The Bermuda Health Council has rightly called for greater transparency from insurers. The council reminds us that insurers choose providers based on business deals, not always just quality. It has emphasised that Bermudians deserve to know what they are paying for and what they risk losing before someone else decides for them.

I stand with the health council’s call for honest answers. I encourage every employer to review the plans they offer and advocate for the families they employ. I encourage every Bermudian to ask hard questions, demand clear explanations and refuse to be kept in the dark.

Healthcare should be about people, not profits, especially when children’s lives are at stake.

Do the right thing. Reverse this short-sighted decision. Protect families. Children’s health is not a line item for savings.

COLIN HASSELL

Warwick