Delinquent Employer Names To Be Published
Following the passage of the Health Insurance Amendment Act 2015 — which allows for the publication of names of employers who fail to provide health insurance coverage for their employees — the first list will be published on July 3.
A statement from BHeC said, “Following the passage of the Health Insurance Amendment Act 2015, the Bermuda Health Council wishes to advise the public that from 3rd July 2015, employers who could not be verified to have an active health insurance policy will be published on its website.
“The Health Insurance Act 1970 [HIA] requires employers to maintain an active health insurance policy for all employees and their non-employed spouse. The Health Council is tasked with ensuring that employers comply with the law. To do this, the Health Council monitors employers’ insurance through reports from the public, insurers and healthcare providers.
“Many employees are unaware of changes to their health insurance policy status. An individual may find out that their policy is inactive only when they go to receive medical attention. To ensure employees can be aware of their policy status, the Health Insurance Amendment Act 2015 authorizes the Health Council to post on its website the names of businesses that do not have an active health insurance policy in place.
“The list will be updated in real-time based on information confirmed with local health insurers. Employers are contacted by a variety of means, and failing a response, they are issued a warning giving 7 days to provide proof of an active policy. Their names will remain on the website until proof of an active policy is provided by the employer and verified by the insurer.
“Since the amendment came into effect, the Bermuda Health Council has written to over 15 employers. The first list will be published on 3rd July 2015.
CEO of the Health Council, Dr Jennifer Attride-Stirling said, “Every month we follow up with an average of 80 employers reported to us. We follow up on all cases and most employers are very cooperative in resolving the problem. However, about a quarter don’t respond to follow-up and require more intensive investigation.
“This is resource-intensive and leaves employees uninsured, often despite having premiums deducted from their pay. We hope the numerous efforts to reach employers to advise them of their status and the potential consequences will help to stress the importance of maintaining their insurance cover in line with the law. We believe this is an important deterrent measure, and hope never to see a name published.”
The list of non-complaint employers will be found at:
www.bhec.bm/health-insurance-act-1970/health-insurance-act-1970/
Persons wishing to query the above listing may do so directly via phone, email, our website, in person or in writing to: Sterling House, 16 Wesley Street, Hamilton HM 11. Phone: 441-292-6420. Fax: 441-292-8067. Email: healthcouncil@bhec.bm.
Watch unemployment increase due to this.
Embarassing employers will either be taken out on employees or consumers.
The person(s) that came up with this approach to handling this situation, are not WISE!!!
The People of Bermuda will feel this blow.
Why not just jail the employer if found guilty after a speedy trial.
Are you serious? There are enough committed and responsible employers out there who understand the importance of health insurance for their employees.
And not providing insurance is one thing … but it is utterly despicable to deduct health insurance from your employees and then not have them covered. That is stealing.
The People of Bermuda will be happy that it will be more difficult for dishonest crooked employers to steal from them.
@jus askin, I really do see your point and it is a good one but, those of us that DO pay our employee health, pension and payroll tax on time find it really unfair those that don’t seem to get away with it??? Until now!
What about employers who don’t remit social insurance or pension contributions?
What about employers who don’t remit social insurance or pension contributions?
Well its about time !! Any employer who doesn’t submit deductions from employees to the intended recipients should be named publicly ! Especially pension n health deductions ! Its out right theft !!! Pensions should be Next !!
I understand the intent of the legislation but expect the ‘law of unintended consequences’ to apply.
Some business may ultimately close once employees realize that the business cannot afford to pay health premiums.
We also need to be clear. If net pay is $85 and insurance is $15, what do I do if I only have $85?
Many people think money is being ‘deducted and kept by the employer’ but that is often not the case.
Using my example, if I had $100, I could pay the $85 and the $15 as insurance. But if I only have the $85, I might deduct the insurance on paper but I never had the $100 to start with.
My new choice will be to use my $85 to pay $15 insurance and then only have $70 for my employee. Therefore the employee ultimately loses.
If a business can’t afford to operate properly, it should close.
If an employer does not care about their employees enough to maintain health insurance I highly doubt the name & shame game will have any effect. However if stiff fines and penalties were levied against employers then that might make a difference.
Great Idea. Can’t wait to start boycotting the companies on the list!
So looking at this legislation and the comments above . . .some questions arose in my mind . . .
1. What consequences other than a naming list will these employers face?
2. What protection is there for the employee? They are innocent in this so why should they be penalized?
3. In regards to social insurance, there are already legal consequences, but who enforces them?
I am looking for answers not just comments.
I hope this list includes ALL entities in Bermuda!!!
If you take monies out of your employee’s wage and fail to put it towards their pension or their insurance; than you are a thief plain and simple; especially if those employees would have the need at some time to depend on having these benefits and I am going to say right; only to find that they are not in place. To my mind if you are unable to carry out that part of their business operations; than perhaps they should not be in business. This is not the 1950′s or 60′s where one did not have to take account of this aspect of the economy; a social contract that benefits all members of our society.
Now that the list is up, I can confirm it is INCOMPLETE!!