This was copied to Health Minister Zane DeSilva and Permanent Secretary of Health Kevin MonkmanMay 24, 2012Dear Sir,I am joining “The Great Debate” on health insurance coverage in Bermuda. Studies have been commissioned, discussions have taken place, and additional discussions continue to take place. Most, if not all, of the normal methods of coming up with the right solution have been or are being explored. New ideas are being considered. The question is: Is Government wasting time and money on this issue rather than biting the bullet and going for the best solution that may be obvious but not necessarily popular with a segment of our society?Bermuda’s total population is smaller than that of a small town in most developed countries and here we are desperately trying to satisfy everyone by cutting up the “insurance pie” in as many pieces as possible. On one hand we have private insurance companies that, by their very nature, are profit driven. They are working diligently to secure the most profitable slices. On another hand we have the Government slices going to the Government Health Insurance for government employees and the Hospital Insurance Plan for members of the public who need to have at least the basic insurance coverage as required by law. (Many of these people may not be able to get the desired plan from the private insurers because of pre-existing medical conditions or for financial reasons.) The Government’s latest piece of the pie is Future Care for seniors.My view is that now is the time for the Government to admit that the present situation is untenable. Now is the time for Government to be bold and move away from “business as usual”. Now is the time for the people of Bermuda to accept the idea that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. By that I mean that those of us who are financially better off than others should be prepared to pay a little more so we all can have at least basic coverage (‘basic” is yet to be determined).How do we achieve these lofty ideals? I will be bold enough to present ideas for consideration.(1) Basic coverage for all to be covered under a national insurance plan.(2) Premiums to be derived from an actuarial based formula out of Employment Tax.(3) Private insurance companies to be offered the opportunity to bid on contracts to administer the national plan.(4) Private insurance companies to offer major medical, dental and vision care.The above ideas may be regarded as being “socialist” to a large degree. I believe that in the most capitalistic societies the people should be prepared to embrace a so-called socialist program when there is no other apparent way to obtain the desired results. I am fully aware that the solutions I have presented are not new and that the implementation will not be easy or straight forward but, in Bermudian lingo, “We are not going to get to Somerset if we are heading towards St George’s”.CHARLES H JEFFERSPembroke