Health Minister Jeanne Atherden has denied Opposition suggestions that the Government is “abandoning” seniors.

Ms Atherden said the Government was steadfast in its commitment to seniors, saying: “We believe that seniors are an invaluable resource to Bermuda and, as such, should be treated with dignity, respect and, above all, fairness.”

She noted several programmes and initiatives launched by Government, including modifications to FutureCare to end the two-tier structure in which seniors were paying different rates for the same benefits and ensuring 100 percent and 80 percent coverage of generic and brand-name drugs respectively for policy holders.

And she said that a means testing system remains in place to ensure that seniors unable to afford FutureCare can receive it through financial assistance, should they qualify.

Ms Atherden also said the Ministry was committed to assisting seniors with the cost of healthcare and has budgeted $60 million to pay for hospital bills on the behalf of seniors, but are also working to prevent illness in seniors through a number of health education programmes and promoting “active ageing”.

“There are many things that a community can do to encourage active ageing. We can develop elder-friendly communities and encourage intergenerational solidarity, provide seniors with choices regarding transport that recognises their needs and abilities and ensure that seniors have easy access to information about the range of services offered on the Island.

“This is why the Ministry has embraced an Active Ageing approach — it is beneficial to not only the mental and physical well-being of our seniors, but to our community as a whole.”

Ms Atherden said the Ministry had been able to reduce the Standard Premium Rate, and that while the cost of healthcare had flattened out, they were working on ways to bringing it down.

“A reduction is a reduction for everyone — especially our seniors who utilise a significant portion of our healthcare costs,” she said. “In the first five months of the fiscal year we have spent more than $20 million on hospital claims for seniors. That is more than $20 million that seniors didn’t have to pay and that insurers didn’t have to pay either.”

On the subject of rest homes, she said the Ministry was actively monitoring the Island’s homes to ensure they meet the required standards, and is working with bodies including the National Office for Seniors and the Physically Challenged (NOSPC) to assist with the placement of seniors who can no longer remain in their own homes.

“Placement involves assessing the needs of the senior, determining if home modifications can be done, or if in-home services can be provided to keep the senior at home,” she said. “If this is not possible, every attempt is made to place the senior at the residential care facility which best matches their needs and budget.”

The Minister noted that the Government was working with the private sector to establish new rest homes to meet increasing demands, and operates two nursing homes.

And she said the Ministry was conducting a review of NOSPC to document their mandate and responsibilities, and was in the process of establish a “strategic road map” for the Island’s greater healthcare system.

“The Bermuda Health Plan will set the direction for future reforms so that all stakeholders understand the broad goals and work towards them with united vigour,” she said. “It will build upon the work of the previous National Health Plan, but will put its proposals in today’s context.

“While previously considered notions of proportional contributions are simply not seen as viable in Bermuda’s context today, there does remain a strongly shared belief among all of us, that everyone should have equal access to basic healthcare. It is in this sense that the Bermuda Health Plan will pursue equity as a core value.

“Our population is ageing and some of the most vulnerable patients have care needs that far exceed the system’s current capacity. An important part of the plan will be to find suitable ways to provide for patients in need of continuing care and alternative levels of care, including our seniors.”