Health Council invites public feedback on insurance proposals

TUESDAY, AUGUST 31: The Bermuda Health Council (BHeC) today announced that, at the request of key stakeholders, the consultation period for its proposals to enhance the regulatory framework for health insurers has been extended to September 15, 2010.

Public interest in the consultation paper has remained constant and to give greater opportunity to provide comments, the Bermuda Health Council agreed to extend the deadline to receive feedback.

The report is available at www.bhec.bm. The consultation period commenced July 9, 2010. All feedback must be submitted in writing by September 15, 2010.

The consultation paper identifies key demographic, economic, and health trends that highlight the need to enhance the current regulatory framework for health insurers in order to ensure Bermuda’s health system is sustainable. Prominent among the trends is the 8.8 percent annual growth in health system expenditure since 2000 and the growing financial burden this presents to the insured public.

The consultation paper explains the three core goals of the proposals:

1. To protect the public through ensuring a sound minimum package, contractual transparency and financial solvency of insurers.
2. To promote equity by ensuring the minimum package is available to everyone at an affordable price.
3. To promote cost-efficiency by ensuring accurate and prompt reimbursement of healthcare providers.

Health insurers, employers, healthcare providers, and the public are invited to provide feedback on the proposed reforms to Mr. Dane K Commissiong, Director of Health System Regulation, by September 15, 2010.

All feedback must be in writing and can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to:

Bermuda Health Council
PO Box HM 3381
Hamilton HM PX
Bermuda

Dr. Jennifer Attride-Stirling, Chief Executive Officer of the Bermuda Health Council, commented: “We are very satisfied with the level of interest from the community in the proposals; members of the public have called in with their views and professionals have been engaged with us in discussions. We welcome more feedback from the public to ensure consideration of the widest range of views and, following requests for more time, have deemed it imperative to give greater opportunity for all stakeholders to respond”.