Amost $40 million could be spent on FutureCare, with Government anticipating it will provide insurance coverage for approximately 3,100 senior citizens when fully operational.

Health Minister Walter Roban said there were three common misconceptions about the scheme: that it was established without actuarial projections, that it has an operational cost of $10 million and that Government mismanagement had left seniors without an affordable insurance option.

"Actuarial modelling estimated that with $10 million of incremental funding, premium of $261 per month from enrolled seniors and the rolling in of present senior funding, FutureCare could be delivered in a total cost of approximately $39 million," he stated.

"This projected a client base of approximately 3,100 insured. I know that right thinking members of the public will realise the ignorance of those who would state that the programme was implemented without any knowledge of what the outcomes would be."

He told a press conference on Thursday that at the six-month mark in September, the department was just under 50 percent of the budget.

The Health Minister also reiterated an earlier Government stance, that insurance providers who discriminate against seniors who can't afford regular health care will not be tolerated.

Earlier this year it emerged that insurance firms took low-cost options off their books once the first phase of FutureCare had been implemented. The move was condemned by Government, who pledged to reopen HIP temporarily to ensure elderly people got some health insurance.

"We have had some situations where persons reaching past 65 couldn't get care or persons being dropped off their insurance," said Mr. Roban. "We find these practices very troubling. It's important that such practices are not continued and we're not going to tolerate it."

Asked for examples, Mr. Roban said: "We're not looking at anything in specific. It would appear to be recent, particularly with FutureCare in April. A case of insurers saying 'you can go to FutureCare instead of us'. FutureCare was not designed and created in a world that only had FutureCare, but also has private options available."

The scheme was highlighted by Governor Sir Richard Gozney in last week's Throne Speech: "During this session, FutureCare will continue to be developed as previously undertaken but not in the face of callous practices in the private sector. Legislation preventing discriminatory practices within the insurance industry will be a considered option, particularly as regards senior citizens."

Mr. Roban added: "Prior to April 1, there were at least three private insurers offering HIP equivalent insurance plans that were available to seniors. Two of those providers disappeared altogether and reports began arriving in the Ministry in the spring regarding another turning down seniors applying for their product. This was subsequently confirmed by that CEO in news reports in September."