Standard health insurance premiums have rocketed again ? this time by an inflation-busting 18 percent.

said rising healthcare costs and more sick patients needing hospital treatment have fuelled the ?significant increase?.

The rise ? which comes on the back of 13 and 11 percent hikes in the previous two years ? will see the standard premium jump to $160.70 per month, and covers a six percent increase in hospital rates.

Mrs. Minors accepted that asking people to dig deeper was a difficult decision, but the right balance had to be struck between financial and social responsibility. The rise would help minimise future increases.

Although she admitted the people most affected would be residents on fixed incomes, especially hard-up seniors, she said that all pensioners on the Health Insurance Plan (HIP) would be ?sheltered? from the majority of the 18 percent increase. Mrs. Minors confirmed the HIP premium for over 65s would be $173.84 ? a rise of nearly eight percent.

But Opposition MPs attacked the increases. branded them ?ridiculous? and ?prohibitive? and asked where Government?s social conscience was. said half the Island?s seniors were living under the poverty level of $11,000 a year. And she said that HIP had increased so much in recent years many seniors had dropped it.

?Bleating about health costs going up around the world is not an excuse,? she added. ?People in this country deserve better.?

Earlier, Mrs. Minors said the six percent rise in hospital rates had not been approved ?haphazardly? and the Bermuda Hospital Board had to justify calling for more cash. However, she said the increase would allow King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to maintain its technological base and remain competitive.

A recent actuarial report showed that 48,000 people were covered by HIP ? and that claim costs had been spiralling for several years. Inpatient costs increased 14 percent since 2005, while outpatient costs went up 11 percent. Mrs. Minors also said that costs of inpatient services overseas rose by more than a quarter after three years of slight decline.

?The unfavourable experience during the last financial year resulted in the loss ratio for licensed insurers being the highest ever seen for this programme, and well above the historical target level of 85 percent.?

The Health Minister said that in a bid to reduce health care costs, employers and unions must educate staff and members to cut unnecessary waste and deliver services more efficiently. When a portion of an individual?s medical expenses are paid by insurance, neither the patient or the health care provider had much incentive to control costs.

Mrs. Minors also said that patients could help by living healthier lifestyles ? and spending less time in hospital. Several wellness programmes are in place to tackle this, she told MPs.

Mrs. Minors said the country?s healthcare system was in ?relatively good shape?, with 86 percent of the population having major medical cover and ten percent basic. And she said that Government was confident the new Bermuda Health Council would prove a catalyst for substantial change. said Government was failing to control health care costs. He said the health council had no teeth and would not be able to handle the more complex issues on the agenda.

Dr. Gibbons said after double digit increases in 2004 and 2005 the Minister should table the actuarial report used to justify the latest increase. Attacking the ?glacial pace? of health reform, he added: ?I?m not confident that Government has a grip on this.?

Mrs. Gordon-Pamplin said taxpayers would eventually have to pick up the tab when people who could not afford medical insurance needed treatment.

Finance Minister Paula Cox, however, said it would be irresponsible not to increase premiums in the wake of rising costs. She added that attempts had been made to insulate seniors. Talks had been held with insurance and drug companies, and she hinted that new laws might be in the pipeline to further help the elderly.

Mrs. Minors said that last year?s Budget provided more than $36 million in hospital subsidies for the elderly. And seniors enrolled in HIP had been granted a $1,150 prescription drug benefit, although the Opposition questioned whether this had been budgeted for.

She stressed people unable to afford health insurance would still be treated at hospital. ?That?s why we have a subsidy from the finance ministry to the hospital,? she added.

All increases will come into force from April 1.