On 10 March 2015, the Summary Court fined local retailer Marcelo Franca CI$8,500.00 for failing to pay health insurance fees, for one of his employees in 2011, and his dependents in 2012.

Following a court hearing Acting Magistrate Angelyn Hernandez found that there were at least three counts against CayTech Electronics.

The acting magistrate imposed a CI$3,500 fine to be paid, or six months imprisonment, on the defendant who pled guilty. An additional CI$5,000 fine or one year imprisonment resulted from failure to pay health insurance for his dependents.

Superintendent of Health Insurance Mervyn Conolly said that, “The Health Insurance Commission is committed to enforcing the requirements of the Health Insurance Laws and Regulations.”

With recent amendments to the Health Insurance Law, the fines that can be applied to such violations significantly increased from CI$5,000 to CI$30,000 on summary conviction and on conviction on indictment increased from CI$10,000 to $40,000.

Mr Conolly added, “I hope that the recent rulings by the Acting Magistrate will serve as a reminder to all employers that it is important to provide health insurance coverage for their employees.”

The case was brought to court by the Health Insurance Commission, which regulates any disputes regarding the provisions of health insurance in the Cayman Islands.