The Editor, Sir:

You recently published a number of letters from H. Dale Anderson regarding the plight of government pensioners. Allow me to illustrate by recounting one aspect of the problems facing such persons.

In October of last year, I contacted the Government Pensioners' Association regarding Blue Cross coverage for my wife and myself. I completed the necessary paper work with Blue Cross and sent a letter to the Accountant General's Department authorising it to make premium deductions from my pension.

I was subsequently advised that a sum equivalent to two months premium deductions had been made from my pension in November 2007 and that deductions were also made in December 2007.

In late October 2007, I contacted Blue Cross to enquire when my coverage would commence. I was told no remittances had been received from the department since October 2007.

I called the department on January 2, 2008, was given a number and told to go to Blue Cross and have them check their records using the number that I had been given since the premium had been remitted.

To my surprise, I was told by Blue Cross that the situation remained the same as when I last enquired, in that nothing had been received from the department since October 2007.

The situation at present is that I lack medical coverage even though premiums for three months have been deducted from my pension and I imagine that hundreds if not thousands of pensioners have had sums deducted from their pensions without these amounts being transmitted in a timely manner to Blue Cross.

This is nothing short of a disgrace and I would hope through the publication of this letter that immediate steps will be taken to redress this problem.

I am, etc.,

RICHARD PIERCE

rpierce35gmail.com