Dear Sir,

The health minister stated people were not getting their regular medical check-ups since the Covid outbreak.

However, the health insurance companies require an annual medical plus an annual eye examination before relicensing a vehicle when over 65 years of age.

Being proactive about my health, I have had an annual medical for the past 50 years.

It appears David Burt, the Premier, is living in la-la land; certainly not in Bermuda.

The latest increase in health premiums have been received. Even when the cost of living index was in the region of 2 per cent to 3 per cent, the annual rise in premiums was about 6 per cent.

Imagine my surprise when the new premium came out this year and the increase was 29.56 per cent over last year’s.

Even the Opposition leader, Cole Simons, is out of touch with reality when he is quoted as saying “Healthcare costs recently increased between 7 per cent and 9 per cent…”

I would love to return to a 7 per cent annual increase in health premiums.

I realise inflation because of Covid, the war in Ukraine, etc, has been about 8 per cent, but a near 30 per cent increase is a little excessive.

What is the answer to these increases, when the insurance companies mandate check-ups before getting vehicles relicensed?

I find it all to be a bit if a conundrum!

ANTONY SIESE

Paget