De Silva: FutureCare offers seniors a good deal

FRIDAY, DEC. 2: A health care scheme for the elderly offers a good deal for seniors, Health Minister Zane De Silva said yesterday.

Mr De Silva spoke out after the OBA’s seniors spokeswoman Louise Jackson said older people had been “shocked” to be handed bills for a share of hospital care overseas under Government’s FutureCare health insurance scheme for those aged over 65.

FutureCare pays 75 per cent of the cost of some services, including overseas care and treatment abroad where the same procedures are not available on the island.

Ms Jackson said that meant a $50,000 operation would leave the patient with a $12,500 share to pay.

But Mr De Silva said: “When she says FutureCare clients are shocked to be handed bills, I would beg to differ — everyone, especially our seniors, are well aware of the benefits FutureCare offers.

Mr De Silva said that FutureCare benefits had been well-publicised — and offered improvements on the Health Insurance Plan (HIP).

“What did we have before FutureCare? Our seniors, if they had any coverage at all, they were paying through the nose for it or they were on the Health Insurance Plan. The fact of the matter is, with HIP people got $2,000 for overseas care on a $100,000 operation.

“I am worried about our seniors and how they may be affected by some of these statements which have been made.

Unprecedented times

“We are facing unprecedented times and the last thing we need to do is cause unwarranted anxiety, especially among our seniors.”

Ms Jackson said that information on the 25 per cent cut for medical procedures had been missing from original promotional material for FutureCare — although she accepted it had been added in to later brochures.

But Mr De Silva said that, in addition to printed material, Government had held more than 20 town hall meetings on FutureCare when it was launched in 2009, as well as holding meetings with Bermuda Industrial Union seniors, the Bermuda Hospitals Board, pharmacies and Age Concern. In addition, newspaper adverts outlined details of the new health care plan and it was featured on the Government CITV channel.

Mr De Silva added that FutureCare also offered 80 per cent of the cost of prescription drugs, up to $2,000 per policy.

He said: “People didn’t have cover for prescription drugs under HIP. HIP also didn’t have any dental benefits or vision benefits. FutureCare does.

“To say people moving from HIP to FutureCare don’t get the same benefits is simply wrong. They get a lot more with FutureCare than they did with HIP. And I don’t think we could have done much more to publicise it.”

HIP, which is open to all over school-leaving age, costs $385 a month, while FutureCare premiums are pegged at $375 a month for those enrolled in phase one and $635 in subsequent phases.

Mr De Silva added that Government also forks out more than $80 million a year in subsidies for aged and geriatric care, while seniors also make up the majority of Financial Assistance claimants.

He said: “Financial Assistance runs into millions of dollars a year too – this underscores what this Government does, and continues to do, for our seniors.”

But Ms Jackson maintained there were “holes” in FutureCare coverage which were “causing hardship to seniors.”

She added: “Of course the Minister will defend his policy, but research showed FutureCare is not as favourable in its co-payments as HIP, which seniors were forced out of. FutureCare has a 25 per cent co-payment for overseas and local operations, procedures and doctors’ fees and does not cover overseas hotel and air fares.”