FutureCare has paid out approximately $5 million in insurance claims to its 2,671 members.

The Government-run insurance programme for eligible Bermudian seniors was implemented six months ago.

Since then FutureCare has paid out $4 million in medical claims, $219,313 in dental claims and $996,600 in overseas claims.

FutureCare has also paid $1.6 million in administrative expenses and fees.

The data came from Parliamentary Questions tabled by Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson, who has been a vocal critic of the way Government has rolled out and run FutureCare since it was pledged in the lead up to the 2007 General Election.

Health Permanent Secretary Warren Jones said Government hopes to turn around insurance claims within 30 days once its automated system is fully functioning in March.

He would not say what illnesses or injuries brought the highest volume of claims or which had resulted in the highest amount paid out.

"FutureCare only has six months of data. It is far too early to have the detailed type of claims history that we could, or would, provide as representing true statistical probability," he said. "Claims history data will have to be built over time and that data will inform future decisions."

Mr. Jones said there is no truth to rumours that FutureCare is to outsource medical claims.

"This question seems to keep coming up," he said. "FutureCare is not outsourcing claims processing overseas. The Health Insurance Section of the Ministry of Health is responsible and will continue to be responsible for claims processing for both HIP and FutureCare.

"On several occasions we have noted that the claims processing is being automated. It is common knowledge that this was previously a manual process.

"The proposed automated solution was put out to tender over a year ago and the successful vendor publicly announced.

"That vendor is located off-Island and we are presently approximately 75 percent complete on implementation of the automated solution. We anticipate full completion by March 2010."

He added that the Ministry is working hard to provide good customer service for FutureCare clients.

"Staff are undertaking customer service training and it is a focus that the Ministry is placing on the managers in that area."

In April approximately 30 percent of Bermuda's seniors were enrolled in FutureCare. At that same time HIP was closed to anyone over 64.

HIP participants pay $241 per month to visit a doctor once a year and hospital visits. Persons enrolled in FutureCare pay $260 a month and are entitled to overseas health care, unlimited doctor visits, vision benefits, $2,000 a year towards prescription costs and other benefits.

The next phase is not due to be implemented unptil April 2010. It is not known who will be eligible for the second phase.