A professional in the local health insurance industry has called on a collaborative effort in dealing with health care for seniors.

And he asked for Government to reveal the costs associated with fully implementing FutureCare.

Government has allotted $10 million for the first phase of FutureCare, an unprecedented health care programme which will see eligible seniors obtain high quality services for only $60 a month.

Currently there are 2,378 people over 65 enrolled in it, approximately 30 percent of the Island's senior population. These seniors are entitled to overseas health care, unlimited doctors visits, vision benefits as well as $2,000 a year towards their prescription costs among many other benefits.

However, since the implementation of the first phase of FutureCare, low cost private insurance options have disappeared from two of the Islands insurers and some seniors are falling through the gap — unable to afford coverage or forced to continue working in order to maintain health insurance through their company.

With the ageing population growing every year the insurer, who asked not to be named, suggested the private companies should work with Government to ensure all seniors get adequate coverage.

"No one entity can undertake this," he said. "You cannot get the solution you want by making insurance companies provide all the coverage, individuals cannot be responsible, the Government cannot be [wholly] responsible or the health care providers.

"No one group can be responsible for covering the senior population's health care and still get the solutions the people want. Everyone has to come together and work this issue out."

The individual believed Opposition MP Grant Gibbons estimate that FutureCare would cost upwards of $65 million a year if it covered all of Bermuda's seniors, which is believed to be 8,000, was a conservative estimate.

He added it would be beneficial for the public and parties involved to see how much FutureCare for all seniors would cost.

"There should be an actuarial study done on FutureCare and the costs involved in it," he said. "If one has been done it, it should be made public."

The Ministry of Health has said it reviewing a proposal to address the issue of the lack of affordable private health care for those not yet covered by FutureCare.

Are you unable to afford health care and ineligible for FutureCare? Contact roklynch@royalgazette.bm.