Seniors not covered by their former employers or FutureCare face paying between $5,000 and $18,000 a year to private firms for health insurance.

>Approximately 44 percent of seniors meet the requirements for Government's health care plan, FutureCare, and will pay approximately $3,000 for comprehensive coverage.

The rest of Bermuda's senior population will have to wait until the next phase is implemented in 2010 to enter the scheme and can pay as much as six times that figure for equal coverage through private firms if they are not currently employed or their former employer opts not to pay their health premiums upon retirement.

In the meantime some are being turned away from the private schemes for being too old, according to Health Minster Walter Roban and confirmed by companies, while others are failing medical tests and refused coverage.

Mr. Roban said private firms were "partially responsible" for seniors facing high insurance premiums, or if they cannot pay for it, going without health insurance. He noted that prior to the implementation of FutureCare three private insurers offered a basic health plan similar to the now defunct Government HIP. Since then two have closed and the other is turning seniors away, he claimed.

Yesterday, The Royal Gazette spoke with four companies that offer health insurance on the Island. Argus's basic individual plan costs approximately $7,500, for comprehensive coverage seniors must fork out as much as $14,436. BF&M offers individual basic health plans for approximately $5,000 but no longer accepts anyone over the age of 69.5. Colonial Insurance offers a comprehensive plan for as much as $18,600, and Freisenbruch Meyer offers a comprehensive plan for $7,092. They do not accept any new customers over 70. [See panel for an in-depth look at what these companies offer compared to FutureCare]

Last night Argus's executive vice president of group insurance, Michelle Jackson, said the company never offered an equivalent to the defunct HIP programme.

"Minister Roban is no doubt referring to the challenges experienced by private insurance companies and Governments inany society when seeking to provide affordable health insurance for seniors," she said. "The cost of health care for this group is significantly higher than for younger groups.

"We understand that the Bermuda Government designed FutureCare to address this challenge of providing affordable health care for seniors.

"We look forward to learning more from the Government about how FutureCare will be rolled out in the coming weeks."

BF&M's CEOJohn Wight confirmed that the company no longer take on seniors over 70 and said it decided to stop that coverage because of the Government's decision to implement FutureCare.

"BF&M have been a strong advocate of health care reform for many years and we commend Government for their initiative to provide health care to seniors over the age of 65," he said.

"Because of Government's initiative we made the decision recently to reduce the duplication of services offered through FutureCare and thus for new business we offer individual health plans to seniors from the age of 65 to 69[1/2]."

But anyone over 70 covered by their former employer's group plan or who were enrolled with BF&M prior to 2009 are still insured by the company, he said.

The other two companies chose not to comment last night.

Currently the Government's senior health care plan, FutureCare, covers those who were enrolled in HIP<\p>prior to March 2009 as well as seniors receiving financial assistance. Government officials have said that accounts for 3,500 of the Island's approximately 8,000 seniors. Premier Ewart Brown initially pledged FutureCare would "provide every Bermudian above the age of 65 with guaranteed health care" as part of the Progressive Labour Party's 2007 election platform. Since then the Government has said the scheme has to be implemented in stages due to the economic downturn.

FutureCare's first phase was implemented for eligible seniors in<\p>April this year, and will also be provided to anyone who turns 65 this year as well as seniors deemed "indigent".

l Are you a senior who cannot pay private health coverage but is not eligible for FutureCare?<\p>Contact roklynch<\@>royalgazette.bm.

A comparison of what health insurers quoted for coverage

Health Minister Walter Roban alleged that some health insurance companies were turning their backs on seniors and refusing to cover those over 65.

Based on checks by this newspaper, it would appear that one company turns away anyone over 69-and-a-half while another has a cut-off age of 70.

The Royal Gazette called insurers, posing as someone looking to enrol a 65-year-old in an individual health plan. We were quoted the prices below by sales representatives. The costs listed do not take into account pricing fluctuations based on results of a physical examination.

This is what sales representatives told us:

Argus Insurance

Two options are offered. There is no age restriction attached to either plan although new customers over the age of 70 are not eligible for overseas treatment.

And existing Argus customers, regardless of age, can convert from a group health plan to either of these plans within 30 days of termination of employment without a physical exam.

The Essential Health Coverage includes local hospital visits as well as overseas care in the event of a life-threatening disease or accident. Insurance covering a stay in a public room at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) would cost a "subsidised senior" approximately $7,500 a year. Coverage including a semi-private room at the hospital would cost approximately $7,872.

The same plan would cost a non-subsidised senior approximately $10,932 in a public room and approximately $11,340 for coverage in a semi-private room.

The company also offers the Classic Plan which, in addition to hospital stays, includes visits to the doctor's office, preventive, diagnostic and laboratory services and partial prescription coverage. This can cost between $10,560 and $10,968 for subsidised seniors depending on whether they opt for a public or semi-private room.

For non-subsidised seniors, the same coverage would cost between $14,028 and $14,436 depending on whether they opt for a public or semi-private room.

The sales representative said some seniors were eligible for subsidised health care however the representative did not know what the requirements were.

BF&M

The sales representative said their plans cover people who are 69-and-a-half or younger.

The basic coverage, which includes local hospital visits as well as overseas care in the event of a life threatening circumstances, costs $5,000. Any additional coverage would require medical information, according to the sales representative.

Colonial Insurance

A sales representative said a 65-year-old female would be charged approximately $16,000 while a man of the same age would be charged $18,000 for a plan which covered major medical expenses including the option of being treated overseas. Dental and vision coverage would cost an additional, optional, $600. The sales representative said there was no age restriction to the coverage.

Freisenbruch Meyer

A sales representative said people over 70 would not be covered. A plan which included local and hospital, overseas hospital care as well as dental and vision coverage costs about $7,092, the representative said.

FutureCare

The Government programme will see seniors enrolled in it pay about $3,000 a year. This will entitle them to doctors visits, preventive, diagnostic and laboratory services, vision and dental coverage as well as partial prescription coverage and hospital visits. Overseas health care would be provided as necessary. Long-term skilled nursing services to seniors in their homes is also covered.