Seniors who join Government's basic Health Insurance Plan in November will not be guaranteed a spot in phase two of FutureCare.

The news comes as the Ministry of Health confirmed legislation to reopen HIP will be tabled at the first sitting of the House of Assembly on November 6.

Government decided to reopen HIP after it became apparent that many people had fallen into a gap ineligible to enrol in the first phase of Government's broad health insurance plan FutureCare and also unable to afford private options which ranged from $5,000 to $18,000 a year.

In September Health Minister Walter Roban said Government had previously closed HIP to those aged over 65 because it was comfortable that the private firms offered affordable care when the first phase was implemented last April.

But he said he became concerned, and was forced into action, when firms took the low cost options off their books once the first phase of FutureCare was implemented.

Yesterday a Ministry spokesperson added that there will be no time limit for enrolling in HIP or cap on how many people can enrol once it is reopened to seniors in November.

The spokesperson added: "We are unaware of how many seniors are affected. Prior to the press conference announcing the reopening of HIP we had a handful of calls, however there have been none since. This is certainly a situation we will be monitoring."

However, the spokesperson said that people who enrol in HIP from November onwards will not be guaranteed an automatic spot on phase two of FutureCare, due to be unveiled in April 2010.

She said: "Enrolment in HIP has absolutely nothing to do with future enrolment in FutureCare."

It is not known how many people will be admitted to the second phase, currently approximately 30 percent of the Island's seniors are enrolled. Nor is it known who will be eligible.