Government believes approximately 400 seniors do not have health insurance.

At the House of Assembly on Friday Health Minister Walter Roban said an Ageing Trends survey revealed six percent of Bermuda's seniors were not insured. Government has estimated there are 8,000 seniors on the Island

And Minister Roban urged seniors not covered by private insurance or enrolled in the Government programmes FutureCare or HIP to contact the Government.

"There is no way to know why these people do not access the services that are available to them," he said. "Whatever the reason, I encourage them to make themselves known to us. If it is help they require; the Government can assist.

"The Department of Financial Assistance, within the Ministry of Culture and Social Rehabilitation, can assess their need and if they meet certain criteria; their health insurance coverage will form part of their total financial assistance support.

"For those persons who have other reasons for not having insurance coverage, I encourage them to either enrol in HIP or seek coverage from a private insurer."