Report notes rise in workers without health insurance
More than 2,000 workers were impacted by inactive or terminated health insurance policies last year, figures from the Bermuda Health Council showed.
The total figure of 2,262 employees affected was said to be 11 per cent higher than the comparable figure for 2023.
In its 2024 Employer’s Compliance Annual Report, the health council said that public and private insurers reported 521 employer policies were inactive or terminated over the course of the year.
The publication added: “It is important to note that these calculations include some policies that were reported for two or more consecutive months and therefore counted two or more times.”
However, the health council said that intervention efforts resulted in 64 per cent of the policies being reactivated and 1,456 employees regaining health insurance coverage.
In total, the organisation reported that $582,851 in standard health premium rates was recovered on behalf of employees whose coverage had lapsed.
The health council said: “Employer compliance is not simply an administrative requirement, it is a critical component of a fair and functioning health system.
“This year’s results show meaningful progress in restoring coverage for employees, while also highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by many small businesses.
“The council remains committed to working collaboratively with employers and the broader community to support system stability and protect workers.”
Overall, the report noted a 1 per cent decrease in inactive policies compared to the previous year.
The health council said it received 23 employer compliance complaints, a 28 per cent increase from the 18 reported in 2023, with small businesses representing the majority of non-compliant employers.
Its findings said: “Small businesses report struggling to afford their monthly health insurance premiums.
“Many have moved their policies from private insurers to the Health Insurance Department.
“As such, most non-compliant businesses are reported by the Health Insurance Department.”
Of those 23 complaints, 12 were resolved, seven were dismissed and four were referred to labour relations.
The report said that the health council uses monthly insurer reports and complaints to identify employers who may be in breach of legislation.
The organisation then contacts the employers and provides them an opportunity to provide proof that they have coverage before enforcement actions are taken.
It added: “Our enforcement approach balances accountability with fairness.
“While we recognise the pressures some businesses face, employees are increasingly willing to speak up when their benefits are not being provided according to their employment contracts, and that willingness is driving real change.
“We are seeing more coverage restored, more gaps corrected and more employers stepping into compliance when held accountable.
“Oversight works best when the public feels empowered to advocate for their rights.”
• To see the Bermuda Health Council report, see Related Media
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