Seniors keen to sign up for phase two of FutureCare have been warned that pre-booked medical appointments and procedures will not be covered only those arising after sign-up.

April 1 has been earmarked as the launch date for the second phase of the $600-per-month scheme providing comprehensive affordable care for seniors. Coverage will be provided from the day people sign up.

Responding to queries yesterday from the Opposition on when people should discontinue their private schemes if they wish to switch to the Government plan, Warren Jones, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health explained: "If you walk in and sign up for FutureCare on April 1 and you know you have a hospital appointment on April 14 that was made a long time before you signed up, FutureCare will not cover it.

"However, if you walk out of the office and get hit by a car, that's different."

Mr. Jones moved to clarify the position after Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson claimed in a press release: "We have heard that FutureCare coverage will be backdated to April 1 but this leaves seniors facing an uncertain decision to end their existing insurance coverage or continue it for another month to make sure negative possibilities don't come to pass namely falling through the cracks of coverage in the transition to FutureCare. This can be a relatively costly matter for households getting by on pensions."

Mr. Jones stressed that coverage will not be "backdated" it will begin from the date of sign-up, whatever that date might be but pre-existing appointments are not covered. He advised those signing up to FutureCare when they have pre-booked appointments to ensure they continue their private insurance until that date to ensure they are covered.

"All I'm suggesting is if they have existing appointments, operations or whatever it might be, they should keep their policy that they have to cover those things. But if you are coming in clean, your policy takes effect," he said.

Mrs. Jackson also cited another concern, that "application forms for phase two of FutureCare are not yet ready and won't be until the April 1 launch date."

Mr. Jones replied that phase two has yet to be approved by legislators. It must first be approved by the House of Assembly when it votes on the 2010/11 budget today, then it must be approved by the Senate.

While it is anticipated that both the upper and lower houses will approve the legislation, Mr. Jones said: "We are not going to sign people up for a plan that isn't even passed yet."

However, he reassured those keen to enlist in the second phase as soon as it gets the green light: "We are ready to roll but we do not want to be registering people until we get our ducks in a row."

The first phase of FutureCare was open to seniors aged 65 or over who were already enrolled in the less comprehensive HIP scheme or who turned 65 last year. Phase two is open to anyone aged 70 or over as of April 1 or due to turn 65 between April 1 and March 31 next year. Those aged between 66 and 69 will be eligible for phase three, to be rolled out next year.

Mrs. Jackson's statement suggested many seniors feel "uncertain" and "confused" over the scheme. She has repeatedly attacked Government over what she believes is a lack of clear information and an "unaffordable" premium.

She said yesterday: "We call on the Minister to come forward with a complete and precise explanation of how seniors should approach this situation."

Mr. Jones responded that anyone with questions is welcome to contact the Ministry for information, or to attend one of the public information sessions scheduled. These are as follows:

• Thursday March 25, Cathedral Hall, Church St., Hamilton, 11 a.m. — 12.30 p.m.

• Monday March 29, Evangelical Church, 1 Mission Rd., Paget, 11 a.m. – 12.30 p.m.

• Thursday April 29, Cathedral Hall, Church St., Hamilton, 11 a.m. — 12.30 p.m.