Plans for more comprehensive healthcare coverage for seniors are well on track and the backlog for claims on Government's Health Insurance Plan (HIP) will be cleared next month, according to Health Minister Nelson Bascome.

Futurecare, which would provide more coverage for seniors who often use HIP when they retire, was promised in the PLP's election manifesto.

HIP provides four visits to the doctors a year and $1,200 in prescription benefits, and costs $186.96 a month for seniors.

An advertisement went up on the Government's website earlier this year requesting proposals from contractors who will then implement the healthcare package that Mr. Bascome said would be in place in August.

Concern was raised that this would put added pressure on HIP which has been struggling through backlog and delayed payments for a number of years.

However, Mr. Bascome said the department was right on track with both Futurecare and clearing the backlog.

He said: "We are now looking at the contracts and the lawyers are making sure they are written correctly and the organisations know what they are doing.

"In two weeks we will be confirming who will be doing it. The Premier gave me a timeline, a very aggressive timeline of April '09. We are working with the organisations and they have a timeline too."

Physicians, the Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB), and pharmacists will all have their backlogged claims reimbursed by July as well.

Recently The Royal Gazette revealed that at least five doctors were asking for payments upfront from their HIP patients because they were not getting paid onetime.

The Health Department hired more staff and used an over-the-shelf computerisation product to help get through the backlog.

Mr. Bascome added: "HIP will be on track and on schedule. By the end of July it will be done. Bringing that current, I have to compliment the staff for their commitment and in making sure the public got the benefit."

All of this will help as the Health Minister announced added benefits offered on HIP which include covering $100,000 for kidney transplants and $500 for a year toward costs to see specialists, such as outpatients or visitors to a doctor's surgery.

Mr. Bascome also promised free dental care would be included by August 1 even as they work toward implementing Futurecare.