The latest phase of the FutureCare health insurance plan for seniors was launched on Thursday — and 27 people signed up.

Collin Anderson, assistant director of the Department of Health Insurance, told The Royal Gazette he thought more would join on the first day of phase two but expected to see enrolment increase in the coming weeks.

FutureCare was launched last year to provide affordable health insurance for the elderly. More than 2,600 seniors joined the first phase at a cost of $260 a month.

The second phase opens FutureCare up to another 5,471 seniors — but they will have to fork out $600 a month for the same benefits.

Anyone aged over 70 or who turns 65 this financial year can enrol in the scheme, which includes $2,000 worth of prescriptions, unlimited physician visits, vision and dental care, plus overseas health care.

Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson has been a vocal critic of FutureCare. She said last night: "It's too early to comment in any definitive way on the enrolment for FutureCare phase two. "We remain concerned that the $600 premium charge for this group, which includes seniors aged 70 years and older, is not affordable for many.

"Ageing studies show that people, as they get older, have fewer resources to draw on to pay for necessities such as health insurance."

Mrs. Jackson claimed that many seniors above the age of 70 should have been allowed to join phase one. But it was restricted to those 65 and over already on the basic state health insurance plan (HIP), anyone turning 65 after January 1, 2009 and persons 65 and over deemed to be "indigent".

She said a significant number of people aged 66 to 70 still couldn't sign up. "We think it will take a few weeks to really see how phase two shapes up numbers-wise. If the numbers don't emerge, then the appropriateness of the $600 premium will have to be challenged.

"Then again, the Government seems quite content to keep the number of FutureCare enrollees as low as possible."

Mr. Anderson said public meetings to inform seniors about phase two had been well attended and many elderly people had spoken of how much they welcomed the plan. Health Minister Walter Roban could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

• Have you signed up for FutureCare phase two? Tell us why by emailing news@royalgazette.bm or calling 278-0133/7.