Health Minister Speaks On FutureCare

Speaking in the House of Assembly yesterday [Dec.2] Minister of Health Zane Desilva responded to Louise Jackson’s recent statements on FutureCare saying, “Although we applaud the tenacity and passion of our Honourable Member, yet again we have found that the research and fact gathering have been poor.”

Speaking earlier this week, the Opposition’s spokesperson on seniors affairs Louise Jackson said, “We have found that FutureCare clients are shocked to be handed bills of many thousands of dollars for overseas care, professional services and other benefits.”

“They are facing significant co-payments for overseas care because FutureCare coverage is limited to 75 percent of Emergency and Recommended Treatment,” she said.

The Minister’s full statement follows below:

Good Morning Mr. Speaker,

I rise this morning to address concerns raised by the Opposition One Bermuda Alliance with regard to FutureCare. Although we applaud the tenacity and passion of our Honourable Member, yet again we have found that the research and fact gathering have been poor.

Failure to Inform

In the OBA’s statement dated November 28, 2011, the Member stated that:

“Government has a responsibility to ensure seniors are informed about FutureCare’s different levels of coverage to minimize confusion, misunderstanding and shock.”

The statement goes on to say that the OBA’s research shows this has not been the case.

Mr. Speaker, this statement should be puzzling to this House. In early 2009, the Health Insurance Amendment Act was placed before the Legislature and thoroughly debated, including explanations of the benefits of FutureCare.

Additionally, for each of the launches of the three phases of FutureCare, benefits brochures were published. In fact, the Honourable Member quotes from some of these very publications in the statement.

Along with the brochures, many Town Hall meetings were held to spread the word about FutureCare in phases 1 and 2. If the Honourable Member was in attendance at any of these meetings, she would have heard the full and complete information.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to take a few minutes to look in detail at the Communications Campaign for FutureCare.

For FutureCare Phase 1, starting in April 2009, Town Hall Meetings were held at the following locations:

• The Evangelical Church in Paget;
• The Elbow Beach Hotel for Medical Providers (twice);
• St. James’ Church Hall in Somerset; and
• Cruise Ship Terminal at Tiger Bay in St. George’s.

Additionally, Information Sessions for FutureCare Phase 1 were held with the following community groups between April and September 2009:

• BIU Seniors’ Club
• Bermuda Hospitals Board staff
• Probus Business Group
• Pharmacy Owners Council
• Allen Temple AME Health Fair, and
• Age Concern Annual General Meeting

Additionally, technical officers presented on radio talk show programs at:

• Hott 107.5FM with Thao Dill, and
• The 60 Something Show with Fred Hassell

In summary, for FutureCare Phase 1, there were 11 public meetings (either Town Hall or small groups), with combined attendance of approximately 610 persons.

Mr. Speaker, for FutureCare Phase 2, starting in March 2010, Town Hall Meetings were held at the following locations:

• Hamilton Cathedral Hall (twice)
• The Evangelical Church in Paget
• The Elbow Beach Hotel for Medical Providers (twice)
• St. James’ Church Hall in Somerset
• Cruise Ship Terminal at Tiger Bay in St. George’s

Additionally, Information Sessions for FutureCare Phase 2 were held with the following community groups between March and October 2010:

• BIU Seniors Club
• Drop-in Seniors Club at Hamilton Salvation Army
• Admiralty House Seniors Club
• Corporation of Hamilton
• Smith’s Parish Council
• Devonshire Seventh Day Adventist Church

Technical Officers presented on radio talk show programs at:

• Hott 107.5FM with Thao Dill
• The 60 Something Show with Fred Hassell, and
• ZBM FM 89.1 on the Everest DaCosta Show

In summary, for FutureCare Phase 2, there were 15 public meetings (either Town Hall or small groups), with combined attendance of approximately 415 persons.

Representatives for FutureCare also appeared on Gary Moreno’s “Let’s Talk” Program on ZBM TV 9.

Then, to top it all off, in October 2010, the FutureCare film was launched on ZBM and VSB, and ran continuously on CITV for many months. The Honourable Member opposite even commented in the Royal Gazette at the time on the FutureCare film.

Mr. Speaker, all these communications to the public provided full overviews of the benefits of FutureCare. In fact, many of the Town Hall meetings spent well over an hour simply reviewing FutureCare benefits.

Every effort was made to ensure that meetings were accessible to seniors and widely attended. All the Town Hall meetings were held during the day, with most held during lunchtime hours. Some of the Town Hall meetings were used to register persons for FutureCare on the spot. And all the Town Hall meetings were advertised widely on the radio and in print two weeks in advance.

Significant Co-payments

Mr. Speaker,the OBA’s statement goes on to say:

“We have found that FutureCare clients are shocked to be handed bills of many thousands of dollars for overseas care, professional services and other benefits. They are facing significant co-payments for overseas care because FutureCare coverage is limited to 75%…”

This should not be a surprise to the Member. The fact that FutureCare has co-payments has been communicated several times to the public and FutureCare policyholders. Specifically:

The FutureCare Phase 2 benefits brochure released in April 2010 (that’s 19 months ago) contained this statement, “Overseas care for emergency procedures and procedures not offered in Bermuda will be reimbursed at 75% of usual and customary rates”
The Overseas Claims Brochure was released and sent to all policyholders (both HIP and FutureCare) in July 2010. This is a seven page document that describes, in detail, the overseas claims process and the reimbursement amounts.
The FutureCare benefits brochure released in August 2010 contained the exact wording around reimbursement as stated above. (“Overseas care for emergency procedures and procedures not offered in Bermuda will be reimbursed at 75% of usual and customary rates”)
In October 2010, the FutureCare film clearly stated that overseas care will be reimbursed at a flat 75% rate.

Mr. Speaker, in the statement, the Honourable Member quoted the Frequently Asked Questions brochure. The statement said that FutureCare did not inform the public that seniors “will have to pay 25% for procedures as well as hotel and airfare costs.”

This was not an oversight.

The Frequently Asked Questions brochure was designed to provide brief answers to common questions, not detailed benefits information. That was the purpose of the FutureCare Benefits Brochure. The benefits brochure lists the detail of what is covered under the FutureCare plan.

In addition, as early as March 19, 2009 at 10:30am, our colleague the late Hon. Nelson Bascombe said: “FutureCare will not cover: Long term custodial care in a nursing home; Airfare and hotel costs for overseas care; or Overseas elective treatment or for care that could be provided in Bermuda.”

These exclusions have been stated in every benefit brochure and description of benefits provided for FutureCare since its inception. How is it that since 2009, the Member is still unclear that FutureCare does not cover transportation costs for overseas treatment?

Mr. Speaker, the public is very clear about overseas coverage under FutureCare. The Health Insurance Department has communicated this message to the public consistently for 18 months. We have said it in:

• benefit brochures;
• in our overseas care brochure;
• in the FutureCare film;
• at town hall meetings;
• in person;
• over the phone;
• through our overseas case management partners; and
• even via the LCCA.

Less value than HIP

Mr. Speaker,

The Honorable Member has taken this matter even further by claiming that people pay more for FutureCare, but get better coverage on HIP. This is simply erroneous. The Member should refer to the same Frequently Asked Questions she quoted from 2009 and 2010. Additionally, the difference between the two is clearly explained in the Overseas Claims Brochure of July 2010.

Mr. Speaker, the only person who seems to be unclear about these matters is the Honourable Member for seniors.

Mr. Speaker, before taking my seat, I’d like to implore all Members of this Honourable House to refrain from using our Seniors as Political Footballs.

Our Seniors have worked and saved their whole lives to make Bermuda what it is today, and this Government has always been committed to assisting our Elder Population wherever possible.

We have been consistent in demonstrating our concern for Seniors. We long recognised that maintaining access to healthcare in later years was a cause of a lot of stress for many Seniors.

Remember, Mr. Speaker, that there used to be very few choices for Seniors when it came to health insurance. If the Senior was in poor health, their options were even more limited.

They could go to a private insurer for coverage (if they could afford to) or they could purchase HIP, with its limited benefits. Those were the only options.

Until the introduction of FutureCare, there was no health insurance option which offered benefits such as overseas care, prescription drug coverage, dental benefits, and vision care at a price which was even close to FutureCare.
In fact, as far as I am aware, there still isn’t a health insurance plan that can compete with FutureCare on cost and benefits.

Mr. Speaker, this Government has not been shy about expressing concern for our Seniors, and we have certainly made every effort to take action to assist our Seniors wherever possible.

Thank you.

#Health #HealthInsurance #LouiseJackson #ZaneDesilva

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