Mervyn Conolly, Superintendent of Health Insurance Commission, announced the Cayman Islands basic plan for health insurance has to be improved and updated because it was not meeting people’s needs. He also stated it was reasonable to expect cost increases as a result of the improved product.

Reasonable?

“Because the benefits have increased, we expect the contribution from the employee will increase by as much as 70, 80, even 100 per cent in some cases. We expect it will go up by at least 50 percent in most cases.” he added.

Reasonable?

About one in three Cayman Islands residents are on the basic plan (SHIC) and they will see the most significant increases.

Reasonable?

The one in three Cayman Island residents who are on the basic plan are on that plan because currently they cannot afford to pay any more.

“Anyone who feels their premium increases are unreasonable can file a complaint with the HIC and it will be investigated,” he said, reassuringly.

“We are cognizant of the fact that this comes at a time when it’s difficult financially,” Conolly continued. “We could delay it and delay it, but we believe the insured population deserves an improved benefits plan so they can be paying for a health insurance plan that is useful to them and is beneficial.”

How?

How do these persons who have not received an increase in their salaries because of the austerity that is continuing throughout the Cayman Islands pay for this “reasonable” 100% hike?

Conolly said his commission would investigate any complaints about excessive increases.

Who do we complain to about the reasonable 100% increases?

Will the Superintendent and his commission help us to pay for them?

Isn’t it reasonable for us to ask?