The cost of Bermuda’s basic health premium has been kept unchanged through better healthcare coordination, a reduction in duplicated services and a decrease in utilisation, according to the Bermuda Health Council.

And to better manage patient care and improve service access, four new benefits will be added to the Standard Health Benefit for the fiscal year 2016 to 2017.

“As we reflect on the past year’s utilisation of Standard Health Benefit, this is an important time to embrace insurance coverage for care that contributes to ‘complete physical, mental and social wellbeing’,” BHeC CEO Tawanna Wedderburn said.

“In the future, greater emphasis will be placed on preventive care and home care benefits, and enhancing access to affordable insurance coverage for all residents.”

BHeC prepares an actuarial review annually to review the cost of the Standard Health Benefit that must be included in every health insurance policy.

By collaborating with the Ministry of Health, Seniors and Environment, the Bermuda Hospitals Board and BHeC, it was determined that the calculated premium for these set benefits and programs will remain at $338.07 this year.

According to the BHeC, this was possible because of greater coordination of care, reductions in the utilisation of hospital services, and lower rates of overseas care.

BHeC health economist Ricky Brathwaite said: “It is very important that we as a society collaborate to create healthy environments and access to appropriate services for all.

“The priority this year was to ensure that we did not make it more difficult for members of our community to manage their health.

“Although progress has been made, there is much work to do to create stability within our system and to work collaboratively to earn the trust of all who demand high levels of quality in their care.

“The conversations that have taken place over the last six months in preparation for setting the SPR should give us all that assurance that we are moving in the right collaborative direction,” Dr Brathwaite added.

The new benefits include the Zio Patch, a device attached to the chest for more accurate diagnosis of heart conditions, as well as peripheral artery disease screening; developing screening and diagnostic services for vascular disease. The new benefits also include plasma exchange, which cleans the blood by extracting and replacing plasma to treat patients with long-term immune conditions, and high-risk foot podiatry, which involves providing care for patients at risk for lower limb amputations due to peripheral disease and non-healing wounds.