Government's revamped health plan for seniors will cover 75 percent of costs for a slew of services, Health Minister Nelson Bascome announced yesterday.

The scheme, which will begin on April 1 for all seniors in the basic Health Insurance Plan (HIP), will include coverage for hospital inpatient and outpatient visits, GP and specialists visits and vision and dental services.

Government will pay for $2,000 of prescription drugs up from $1,200 under HIP while overseas care will also be covered. However FutureCare will not cover long-term nursing home care or the airfare and hotel costs for overseas care and monthly premiums will go up $60 to $261.

All the pensioners under HIP, estimated to be about 3,100, will be transferred although HIP will still be available as a health option for those under 65.

Mr. Bascome said FutureCare was to reduce the number of uninsured seniors in Bermuda and to make healthcare more affordable.

"This Government believes that we have a moral obligation to take care of those who raised us and who took care of us."

He said under HIP most seniors have to pay for the majority of professional services provided by specialists outside of the hospital and costs were rising while fewer companies were offering paid retirement health insurance benefits.

"Seniors who wished for a private health insurer often found the costs financially prohibitive at upwards of $700 a month. FutureCare will offer a comprehensive benefit package that provides the benefits that seniors need most."

FutureCare will cover:

¦ Hospital inpatient and outpatient visits

¦ Visits to general practitioners and specialists

¦ Preventative, diagnostic and laboratory services

¦ Durable medical equipment and prosthetics

¦ Long-term skilled nursing services to seniors in their homes

¦ Prescription drugs

¦ Vision care

¦ Dental services, and

¦ Overseas care as necessary.

Under HIP, seniors were limited to four physician visits annually while FutureCare offers unlimited physician visits.

And while seniors did not have the benefit of long-term skilled nursing services in their home under HIP, they have this benefit under FutureCare.

FutureCare can be expanded in the next financial year if the economic situation allows, said Mr. Bascome who said his Ministry will engage in a multi-pronged public PR campaign that will target seniors, doctors, pharmacies and health-care specialists to help them understand the benefits of FutureCare.